The Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed ordinary objects into conduits for the future by embedding sensors that see, hear, and touch the world around them. With a history dating back to the 1950s, the IoT has come a long way with key milestones including John Romkey’s toaster in 1990 and Kevin Ashton coining the term IoT in 1999. However, it also poses significant security concerns due to inadequate security measures in device design, leaving devices vulnerable to hackers and malware.
The Internet of Things (IoT)
A Guide to Understanding the IoT
The Internet of Things (IoT) has transformed ordinary objects into conduits for the future by embedding sensors that see, hear, and touch the world around them.
History of the IoT
The history of the IoT dates back to the 1950s with sci-fi writers like Ray Bradbury and television shows like The Jetsons depicting automated houses. Inventions were showcased at exhibitions, and companies began introducing more devices as home internet became ubiquitous and Wi-Fi sped up. Key milestones include:
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John Romkey’s toaster in 1990
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Kevin Ashton coining the term IoT in 1999
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The Mirai botnet infecting over 600,000 IoT devices with malware in 2016
Components of an IoT System
Any IoT system today contains a few basic components:
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A thing outfitted with sensors that collects data.
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The ability to connect and communicate with other devices.
History of IoT
The IoT has a history dating back to the 1950s with sci-fi writers like Ray Bradbury and television shows like The Jetsons depicting automated houses. Inventions were showcased at exhibitions, and companies began introducing more devices as home internet became ubiquitous and Wi-Fi sped up.
Key Milestones
IoT Today
Today, there are billions of IoT devices worldwide, exceeding 20 billion by some estimates.
Benefits and Risks of IoT
The internet of things brings all the benefits of the internet to items like lightbulbs and thermostats, but it also brings all the problems of the internet, too. Connecting things to the internet leaves those objects, and everything else on your Wi-Fi network, more vulnerable to hackers.
Regulations and Standards
California’s IoT Security Law mandates cybersecurity checks for IoT device-makers, while Oregon follows suit with its own law requiring reasonable security features. Furthermore, IoT devices collect data that can be shared with third parties, raising concerns about privacy.
Solutions to Security Concerns
We’ll also need to keep all those devices from mucking up the airwaves, and we’ll need to find a better way to secure the data that’s transmitted across those airwaves.
CHARIOT (Cryptography for Hyper-scale Architectures in a Robust Internet Of Things)
Darpa’s inventions aren’t just for the military: Drones, GPS, autonomous vehicles, and the actual worldwide web all came out of the agency’s research projects. So if the agency can crack IoT security well enough for the military, it’s likely to help your humble HomePod, too.
Threats to Cybersecurity
The risk of bricking aside, connecting things to the internet also leaves those objects, and everything else on your Wi-Fi network, more vulnerable to hackers. Laura DeNardis, in her recent book The Internet in Everything, has called this threat to cybersecurity the greatest human rights issue of our time.
Future of IoT
The growth of the internet of things could also lead to new kinds of cyberwarfare; imagine a bad actor disabling every smart thermostat in the dead of winter, or hacking into internet-connected pacemakers and insulin pumps. It could create new class systems: those with robot maids, and those without.
Smart Cities and Infrastructure
Smart hospital rooms will have sensors to ensure that doctors wash their hands, and airborne sensors will help cities predict mudslides and other natural disasters. Autonomous vehicles will connect to the internet and drive along roads studded with sensors, and governments will manage the demands on their energy grids by tracking household energy consumption through the internet of things.
Security Concerns
The Internet of Things (IoT) poses a significant threat to cybersecurity due to inadequate security measures in device design. Malware has exploited vulnerabilities in IoT devices, leading to massive DDoS attacks and crippling the internet.
Need for Better Standards
There are ideas for creating a better standard for IoT devices, and plans to help them get along with each other, regardless of which company makes them or which voice assistant lives inside.
Impact of 5G on the IoT
The adoption of 5G technology will have a significant impact on the IoT. It will enable faster internet speeds, making it possible for more devices to be connected and interact with each other.
Examples of IoT in Healthcare
Researchers used the GPS in mobile phones to track the spread of the virus, public health workers used sensors to monitor patients under quarantine, and doctors used internet-connected devices, like drones and robots, to deliver drugs and check on patients without risking contact.
- wired.com | What Is the Internet of Things? A WIRED Guide
