Cybersecurity Threats in the Age of IoT

Cybersecurity has become one of the most talked about issues in recent times due to the massive amounts of hacking stories that have taken place over the last few years. We can all clearly remember the massive Target hack and the security breach at Equifax which comprised almost everyone’s information.

Everybody can appreciate cybersecurity and, in this current climate, must be knowledgeable of it. More and more of the world is becoming interconnected and more and more people are going online. This poses a huge security risk as data from millions of people will, paradoxically, become more secure and more vulnerable simultaneously. This is cause for great alarm as the full reach of what a cybersecurity flaw can produce is still not entirely known. The Equifax hack would be a sure indicator that, at the very least, it isn’t good.

Not everyone can be sure what will happen but this, of course, cannot get in the way or inhibit progress in any way. Oddly, these two things must act in perfect harmony. We must have consistent and eager progress while maintaining the risk despite our concerns.

This issue does not become any less complex in the Internet of Things. This new incoming age brings with it all kinds of intricate ways that hackers and other exploitative programs can deceive and infiltrate our personal data. During the tech revolution, there are a few things to be acutely aware of in order to prevent a total collapse of your privacy.

The Internet of Things brings with it many innovations that can not only assist us in our lives but can change our lives altogether. Almost everyone has a smartphone and smart home assistants are already becoming ubiquitous. We have in our homes all sorts of devices that are constantly listening and watching us better our lives and make living easier in general. We collectively love these devices as they can keep us in order and drive us closer to a future present only in our dreams.

However, these come with the risks that all electronically inclined and connected objects do. For instance, say an individual has a smart home alarm system with a customized 5 digit security code that has all the bells and whistles. All it takes is someone compromising your network security or interacting with a security camera in your home to grab that passcode and have access to your house, alarm free.

The same goes for Apple Pay which, while secure, is one broad hack away from leaving your personal banking information subject to the view of a criminal. When most of our electronics that record our voices submit what they heard to their engine they usually convert it into text. This text can then be absconded with by a criminal who can use this information against you. These, for better or for worse, are not even the harshest ways we can be compromised.

The tried-and-true formula, of course, still reigns true and that is most individuals do not protect their passwords. Over 80% of all hacks are completed using social exploits, which is to say that somebody lies in order to obtain information.

Sometimes a hack can occur from the silliest mistake, like leaving your password on a sticky note on your computer or written plainly on your desk so you can quickly remember your login. These mistakes, combined with the Internet of Things, put you at an even bigger risk as they are now more ways to find this information using interconnected cameras and voice recognition software.

Some companies have even decided to switch over to biological authentication which is usually a retina scan or thumbprint scan. This is costly and often times averse to the employees. Unfortunately, the risks associated with online communication and progress are ones not easily dealt with.

Cybersecurity teams do the best they can to create anti-malware so that people who download bad links from their emails don’t end up losing everything. They also create firewall software that prevents your online connection from becoming compromised disallowing intrusion.

Regardless we can not let the risks impede our progress or our future and we must do everything we can to make sure we keep our information secure and our own. That means being careful and cautious while simultaneously keeping our heads high and our vision glued towards a better world.

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