Security challenges in IoT: Protecting a world of connected devices
By Sakshm Dhakal
In simple terms, the Internet of Things (IoT), as defined by Techtarget, is a network of interrelated devices that connect and exchange data with other IoT devices and the cloud.
Think of it this way: imagine you’re at work and realize you left the TV on at home. Instead of having to go back, what if you could simply check the TV’s status and turn it off using your phone? Sounds amazing, right? With IoT, you can connect almost any appliance – not just your laptop or iPad – to the internet, allowing you to monitor and control it remotely.
According to Statista, the number of IoT devices globally is projected to nearly double, growing from 15.9 billion in 2023 to over 32.1 billion by 2030. In fact, China, with around 8 billion consumer devices, is expected to have the most IoT devices by 2033; similarly, across all industries, IoT devices are predicted to exceed 8 billion.
Despite the convenience offered by IoT, these devices typically lack built-in security to counter threats, consequently allowing cybercriminals to breach them, and launch cyberattacks.
Now, let’s look at some of the most common security vulnerabilities in IoT devices:
Lack of Proper Encryption:
IoT devices often send sensitive information – like passwords – over unencrypted channels, making it easy for attackers to intercept credentials and other important information. Even when encryption is present, many devices use outdated or weak encryption algorithms (like MD5 or SHA-1) that expose the encryption to attacks.
Poor Vulnerability Testing:
Many IoT devices are designed with a primary focus on their features and functionalities, rather than security. As a result, proper vulnerability testing – an essential step to identify and fix security flaws – is often overlooked.
Physical Security Concerns:
IoT devices, deployed in public or unsecured environments, are often susceptible to physical tampering. Gaining physical access to the device enable attackers to manipulate hardware, extract sensitive information, or even modify the device through exposed hardware interfaces like USB Ports.
Outdated Firmware:
Many IoT devices do not receive regular software updates, leaving them vulnerable to new security threats discovered after the device’s release. Some devices don’t have over-the-air (OTA) update capacities (therefore, requiring manual updates) which most users neglect.
Weak authentication and authorization:
IoT devices often rely on weak authentication and authorization practices; in fact, many IoT devices are configured with default usernames and passwords, which users often fail to change. Hence, hackers can easily gain access to these devices, leading to unauthorized surveillance and data theft.
To fully grasp the impact of these security challenges, we can examine real-world incidents where such vulnerabilities have led to significant breaches and attacks. Two of the most threatening breaches are described below:
Mirai Botnet (2016):
The Mirai botnet is a notable example of a cyberattack involving IoT devices. In 2016, it was responsible for a massive distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack by taking control of hundreds of thousands of IoT devices, like cameras and routers, that still had default usernames and passwords. Hackers used these compromised devices to send overwhelming amounts of traffic to major websites, including Twitter and Netflix, causing them to crash and disrupting services for millions of users.
Ring Home Security Camera Breach (2019):
Amazon-owned Ring experienced a major security breach when hackers gained access to multiple home security cameras by using weak, reused, or default passwords. This allowed the attackers to watch live video feeds from the cameras and even communicate with the people in the homes, raising serious privacy concerns about the security of these devices.
Witnessing the use of these devices grow significantly, addressing these security challenges has become more important than ever. Manufacturers, developers, and users must prioritize security by implementing better encryption, regular updates, strong authentication practices, and careful vulnerability testing to protect a world increasingly reliant on connected devices.
So what are the concerned authorities doing? Are they just holding back and enjoying? Definitely not: to combat these challenges, governments and industry organizations are developing security standards and regulations aimed at protecting IoT devices. Governments are beginning to pass laws that mandate stronger security measures for IoT devices. For instance, the IoT Cybersecurity Improvement Act of 2020 in the United States requires federal agencies to only purchase IoT devices that meet specific security standards. Moreover, organizations like the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have developed guidelines for securing IoT devices, covering topics such as encryption, secure boot processes, and network segmentation. Furthermore, Security certification programs, such as ETSI EN 303 645, are emerging to help consumers identify IoT devices that meet minimum security requirements.
Besides enhanced security regulations, Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning are becoming game changers when it comes to IoT security. These technologies can help identify unusual patterns of behavior, enable real-time threat detection, and automate responses to potential breaches. AI can also enhance the existing capabilities of security systems by predicting threats based on historical data.
To sum up, as the number of connected IoT devices continues to grow, so do the security risks associated with them. While IoT has the potential to transform industries and improve everyday life, its vulnerabilities can have severe consequences if not properly addressed. By understanding the unique and diverse security challenges posed by IoT and implementing best practices – improving device authentication, software, privacy, and security approaches – we can certainly help secure a world where everything is connected.
