Internet of Things: Providing Solutions to the Biggest Security Challenges

In the past few years, the buzz around the Internet of Things (IoT) has only exponentiated, and understandably so. After all, the idea of connected devices offering supreme control over our handling of things is one to savour. 

However, it won’t be an exaggeration if I say that the way IoT, as a technology, has progressed is certainly not compliant with the buzz. It’s more of a hype sourcing from the consistent introduction of disruptive technologies. 

Take IBM Watson as an example — its contextual capabilities reach beyond the common understanding. A decade ago, when it came to the stage, people started celebrating the fact that IoT is going manifold. And in all honesty, it did. But Watson, too, is prone to vulnerabilities — DOM-based cross-site scripting is one of the issues that IBM has itself addressed. 

So, when I say “not compliant with the buzz,” I’m not imposing a view that IoT hasn’t reached a good level; I’m saying that the level it is has reached is vulnerable and still not convenient for common use. 

But, here’s the thing, solutions to the biggest Internet of Things threats and challenges exist. The problem is that most businesses don’t address them. If yours is a business, I’d want to keep in mind that the underlying IoT framework’s security is as important as any organizational asset can get. 

Let’s use this article to study some of the most viable solutions to IoT security challenges. 

Significantly Reducing the Chances for DoS and DDoS

Prevention is always better than cure, and that’s precisely what I’d like to cover. One of the most viable preventions that I’ve come across is Packet Filtering. A 2020 study reveals that packet filtering can be effectively carried out using a technique called egress/ingress. 

Here’s how it works:

1. Ingress Network Filtering – It’s applied to the packets that are entering the network. Ingress filtering stops the entry of “suspicious” packets from the edge-level router. Suspicious accounts for those packets which do not contain information about the source. Remarkably, if the firewalls within the network apply ingress filtering, they leave no chance for the attacker to access the original packets.

2. Egress Network Filtering – It’s applied to the packets that are exiting the network. In this case, the firewalls drop or hide all those packets that are original or contain the source’s address. This means that the hacker doesn’t have the opportunity to access the packets that can lead him to the internal interface of the network. 

Packet filtering, however, can be compromised in case the attacker manages to attack through an actual IP address. In that case, a technique called ScoreForCore comes in handy, which scores every connection in a network. This way, any dubious connection can be easily identified because its score would differ from those within the network. 

Some applications for preventing DoS and DDoS: Cloudfare, G2

Addressing the Threat Posed by Cryptocurrency Botnets

We’re all aware of the sophistication of cryptocurrency when addressing the issues associated with it. In all honesty, algorithms like blockchain are your most secure bet; however, hackers find loopholes in the system to introduce malware and use it to their benefit. 

For instance, in 2014, Harvard’s Odyssey supercomputer was hacked by attackers and allegedly used for mining dogecoins. Yes, that’s how hackers are doing it — they are compromising with the devices used for mining cryptocurrencies — a concept known as cryptocurrency-mining malware. 

One of the biggest threats identified in relation to the IoT industry is the cryptocurrency-mining malware affecting routers. Simply put, the routers (botnets) are zombified for malpractices. 

Mitigating these risks is essentiality, and the first step is to realize that they exist. People often remain oblivious to such security challenges and don’t take appropriate measures to limit them. 

The second step is to choose safe devices. For instance, Trend’s Home Network Security is an excellent solution to protect the devices within a specific place from being compromised. It works in favor of scanning all the traffic related to the devices and mitigates the risk of cryptocurrency malware from hacking through Internet-connected devices. 

In a Nutshell

If you noticed, much of the security solutions are still in the study/research status. That means that IoT technology isn’t yet equipped with the most concrete solutions. Does that mean that we should stop using such smart devices? Of course not.

What you’re using currently is safe, and that’s precisely why it’s in the market. However, IoT has advanced to a greater extent, something that isn’t being brought to the stage because appropriate security measures don’t exist to mitigate the problems that could arise. 

And considering the fact that almost everyone is connected to the Internet, these problems can become massive in a matter of days. Therefore, instead of exaggerating the technology, it is essential that we work on the solutions to the innovations that are already knocking on the door.