Hacking Into Internet of Things
Internet of Things (IoT) is growing fast. It is projected by McKinsey that in 2020, 20 to 30 million connected devices will come online [1]. While IoT represents huge opportunities, it may also pose threats to the society. Security issues, for example, can result in quite disastrous consequences is not handled cautiously.
In recent years, several US governmental agencies, including U.S. DOJ, DARP, NSA and CIA A have all expressed their concerns about the security vulnerability IoT technology may pose upon the society [2]. Some of them have also started evaluating IoT technology risks specifically.
The potential risk of IoT security problem can be best illustrated by a presentation at this year’s Black Hat conference in Nevada. The video can be found below [3]:
The demonstration showed how vulnerable current ‘smart-devices’ can be in terms of security. What is worse, these soft targets may pose a huge challenge for national security if terrorists take advantage of them. In the summer of 2014, the Twitter account of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), the unit with overall responsibility for military operations, was overran by an pro-ISIS hacker group called Cyber Caliphate [4]. It is clear that IoT have a very high possibility of becoming the next target for terrorists as this is related to the physical infrastructures of a society. One example may be ISIS technicians developing a Google-style driver-less car that could carry explosive devices and navigate itself into a crowded area [5].
IoT may change the world and make life a lot easier. But let us bear in mind that it also have some challenges alongside benefits. Cyber-security should always be one of the top considerations when it comes to its large-scale deployment.
Sources:
[1] Bauer, H., Patel, M., & Veira, J. (2014, December). The Internet of Things: Sizing up the opportunity. Retrieved October 14, 2016, from http://www.mckinsey.com/industries/high-tech/our-insights/the-internet-of-things-sizing-up-the-opportunity
[2] TUCKER, P. (2016, September 8). How Will Terrorists Use the Internet of Things? The Justice Department Is Trying to Figure That Out. Retrieved October 16, 2016, from http://www.defenseone.com/technology/2016/09/how-will-terrorists-use-internet-things-justice-department-trying-figure-out/131381/?oref=d-channeltop
[3] A Lightbulb Worm? (2016, August 16). Retrieved October 16, 2016, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R3ZVeBWNSIY
[4] Curwin, T. (2016, May 10). Can ISIS hack into the Internet of Things? (Uh, no.). Retrieved October 16, 2016, from http://readwrite.com/2016/05/10/isis-hack-internet-things-iot-dt4/
[5] Batchelor, T. (2016, May 04). ISIS building Google-style driverless cars to launch bomb attacks in BRITAIN and West. Retrieved October 16, 2016, from http://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/665776/Islamic-State-driverless-cars-launch-bomb-attacks-suicide-bombers
