The Internet of Things (IoT) revolutionized how technology interacts with us. From wearables like wristbands to industrial equipment and smartphones, to the Internet of Things (IoT) devices, they greet us from every direction. In 2023, over 15 billion IoT devices were deployed globally, and by 2030, an estimate was made that there would be 29.4 billion (Statista).
But where interconnection is more, risk is more. IoT devices are not securely managed and can therefore be used to trigger attacks. Unauthenticated guardians, outdated firmware, and multi-standards constitute the ingredients for a monster threat to businesses, consumers, and governments. The article outlines the largest IoT security threats and provides the best ways to defend yourself against them.
Why IoT Devices Are Vulnerable
Recognizing the resource constraints of IoT devices is crucial to their security. Why are they so prone to being hacked?
1. Limited Resources
IoT devices are low-power and low-energy devices. They don’t come with enormous storage, memory, or CPU, and therefore, the addition of advanced security capabilities like intrusion detection and encryption becomes a limiting factor.
2. Non-Standardization
IoT is built on a heterogeneous collection of devices produced by hundreds of different companies, and most of them use more than one protocol. Security structures or not, leaky defenses.
3. Worthless or Non-Existent Updates
There are firmware patches for patching loopholes. These devices don’t rely on end-users doing something manually that never occurs.
4. Default Credentials
They like the root login password and names (i.e., “admin/admin”). Common everywhere and used mainly by hackers.
5. Always-On Connectivity
IoT devices are permanently connected, and therefore, they expose a bigger attack surface. A hijacked device would then be an always-on attack on a network.
IoT’s Most Crippling Security Threats
1. Unauthorized Access & Device Hijacking
Risk: Hackers use IoT devices with poor authentication, open API, or hard-coded passwords. The device becomes a spy, a data thief, or an attack platform for a secondary attack after it enters the system.
Example: Default passwords were not used by the Mirai Botnet until 2016, infecting over half a million IoT devices, which were then used to take over and conduct massive-scale DDoS attacks, causing services like Twitter, Reddit, and Netflix to go offline.
Defense:
Batch change default passwords
One-time passwords
Use two-factor authentication wherever possible
2. Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed DoS (DDoS) Attacks
Threat: Infected IoT devices are used to launch DDoS attacks by forming a traffic flood within a network or server, making services inaccessible.
Effect: DDoS attacks employing IoT rose by 50% in 2023 (Kaspersky). Where there are enough devices available on the network from which to attack, it is not such a complex process to form botnets in an attempt to make a profit.
Protection:
Segregate the network as a countermeasure to isolate IoT devices
Deploy DDoS protection software
Suspect rogue traffic
3. Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks
Threat: Device-server communication should be encrypted, or else the data can be hijacked and manipulated by attackers. It is the most serious threat to industrial and healthcare applications.
Example: In the hospital, a MitM attack could alter a patient monitor read-out to result in incorrect treatment.
Defense:
Use end-to-end encryption with TLS
Enforce secure communication protocols (e.g., HTTPS, MQTT over TLS)
Employ VPN tunnels for remote access to devices
4. Data Hacking and Privacy Breach
Risk: IoT devices steal sensitive personal data by systematically gathering medical, location-based, and voice-based data, including language. It can be hijacked statewide for identity theft when accessed, or as a bridgehead to tap in the middle.
Measure: An HP study revealed that 70% of IoT devices transmit data in an unencrypted form, making them vulnerable to unauthorized access.
Mitigation:
Harvest only strictly necessary
Encrypt in transit and on standby
Store on edge where it will be handy to do so (edge computing)
5. Firmware Bugs and Unpatched Firmware
Threat: Firmware can contain exploitable vulnerabilities due to outdated firmware. The worst supply competitor never releases patches to remedy and, therefore, leaves merchandise vulnerable to known attacks.
Example: Ripple20 vulnerabilities had infected nearly one million devices with the Treck TCP/IP stack, many of which were unpatched, in 2021.
Select vendors with uptimes of more than the default time.
Harden firmware updates independently.
Digitally sign firmware for integrity
6. Insecure APIs and Cloud Interfaces
Threat: Open APIs used to communicate with cloud infrastructure or mobile applications can be exploited to gain unauthorized access to information or steal it.
Defense:
Tokenize all API calls
API penetration testing regularly
Implement rate limiting to prevent abuse
7. Physical Manipulation and Reverse Engineering
Threat: A physical attacker reverse-engineers firmware, dumps data, or manipulates hardware to identify exploits after acquiring physical access to a device.
Defense:
Implement secure boot processes
Use tamper-evident closures and packaging
Shut down unused ports and interfaces (UART, JTAG)
IoT Best Practices to Secure IoT from Threats
1. Device Configuration Security
Reset the default login password
Disable unneeded features and ports
Use secure rotating passwords and MFA
2. Network Segmentation
Use IoT devices on dedicated VLANs
Use firewalls to restrict cross-network traffic
Block sideways motion in case of breach
3. Use Zero Trust Architecture
Default to thinking of devices as untrusted
Use constant authentication and authorization
Monitor all device activity for patterns of suspicious behavior
4. Ongoing Monitoring and Logging
Collect logs using SIEM technology from all web-connected devices
Employ notifications against out-of-pattern or suspicious activity
Search for compromise patterns in the logs.
5. Vendor Screening and Secure Supply Chains
Purchase from security best practice supply vendors
Verify the firmware and hardware components’ supply chain authenticity
Emphasize transparency and security certification as the highest (e.g., ISO/IEC 27001)
6. User Education and Training
Train users to update firmware on devices regularly
Train users to guard against phishing attacks and malicious behavior
Reward users for indicating malicious device behavior
Current IoT Security
AI and Machine Learning to sense threats
Artificial Intelligence can be utilized to monitor and identify real usage to scan for anomalies. AI would detect regular device activity and trigger administrators for suspicious activity.
Blockchain for IoT Security
Blockchain would deliver data authenticity and integrity between devices in a distributed fashion. Blockchain, for instance, would store tamper-evident device interaction histories, making it even more difficult to tamper with.
Closeness to the device (edge) lowers latency and limits data exposure through not cloud uploading.
Regulatory and Compliance Implications
Significant Most Pertinent Regulations:
California IoT Security Law: Waited for adequate security on network devices.
EU Cybersecurity Act: Facilitates easier certification and possession of security models.
NIST SP 800-213: Offers recommendations on how to secure IoT devices within federal environments.
Companies need to remain vigilant against evolving compliance demands and harmonize their hardware to meet regulatory guidelines.
Conclusion
IoT is galloping helter-skelter into the horizon at breakneck speeds, propelled by innovation and potential safety hazards. So valuable are IoT devices, however, for use in nefarious operations, ranging from data pilferage of individuals to cyberattacks on industrial process control systems.
IoT security is an excellent example of multi-tenant practices being undertaken by all layers, including the secure design of devices, customer education, appropriate planning at the network level, and online monitoring. It engages all parties, including customers, service providers, and suppliers, so that they all become part of the same family and adopt good practices to fill the gaps in regulatory efforts, achieving maximum security.
By pinpointing the most significant threats and implementing active defense measures, we can have a secure and stable IoT system that will ensure the future success of connected technology.
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