By Ben TAGOE
The Internet of Things (IoT) has changed how we use technology by linking gadgets and systems together to make them more efficient and easy to use across many systems.
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of physical objects that are linked together and can talk to each other and share data without any help from a person. This makes smart apps possible, like smart homes and wearable tech.
More and more non-traditional devices can connect to the internet, which makes the danger domain and environment much bigger. The range of products that can connect to a network keeps growing as IoT technology improves.
Almost every piece of technology, from watches to thermostats to video game systems, can connect to the internet or talk to other gadgets in some way. To keep data, privacy, and the stability of systems safe, it is important to think about IOT security.
IoT security protects devices, networks, and data on the Internet of Things (IoT) from hackers and people who shouldn’t be able to access them. It uses many different methods and measures to look at hardware, software, connection protocols, and how people use the system. The goal is to protect devices that are linked together and make sure that the data they send is kept private and secure.
Before we can fully understand how important IoT security is, we need to know some of the ways that IoT devices can be broken. Here are some of the most common weaknesses in IoT devices:
Weak or hardcoded passwords: A lot of IoT devices have default or hardcoded passwords that are easy to guess or stay the same, which lets people who aren’t supposed to be there get in.
Not Safe Update Methods: A lot of IoT devices don’t have safe ways to get and install updates, which leaves them open to attacks that take advantage of known flaws that could have been fixed.
Ecosystem Interfaces That Are Not Secure: Attackers can use weak spots in the connections between IoT devices and their ecosystems, like mobile apps or cloud platforms, to get in and take control without permission.
Insecure networks: A lot of IoT devices work on networks that aren’t secure because they don’t have the right encryption or authentication tools. This means that attackers can intercept or change data transfers.
Multifactor authentication (MFA): MFA is not supported on most IoT devices. MFA would add an extra layer of protection to our gadgets. Since most of these devices already have passwords set up, adding an extra layer of security would make them much less likely to be attacked.
If an attacker gets into one network device, they can move through the network and affect important processes. Even HVAC (heating, ventilation, and cooling) systems can have big problems for businesses if they are hacked. These systems may be needed to keep gadgets at a comfortable temperature. Even with all of these flaws and weaknesses, there are ways to keep our systems safe from IOT threats and lower the chance of being hacked through IOT flaws. These are some ways that we can make our networks safer for IoT.
Regular Software Updates: Managing patches and installing new software on a regular basis can help fix known security holes and make a device more resistant to new threats.
Encryption and authentication: Using strong encryption methods and authentication systems makes sure that IoT devices and networks can talk to each other safely, stopping hackers from getting in and changing data.
Network Segmentation: Keeping IoT networks separate from vital systems and putting in place access controls can lower the damage of security breaches and make it harder for attackers to move from one network to another.
Management of the Device Inventory: To make tracking and management easier, keep an up-to date list of all the IoT devices that are linked to the network, including information like the type of device, where it is located, and what it is used for.
Change the basic settings and passwords: Most IoT devices come with passwords, setups, and settings that were set by the manufacturer. Important settings like default passwords, port numbers, and other things should be changed as much as possible, because attackers can easily get this information and use it to take over these devices.
As more businesses start to use IoT, it’s important to make sure that strong security measures are in place to reduce risks and build trust in ecosystems that are linked. We can get the most out of IoT while protecting ourselves from new cyber threats if we deal with the unique problems that IoT devices and networks bring up and adopt new security solutions.
