By Haefner, Kyle, Ph.D., CableLabs; Haque, Asad, Comcast; Page, Jason, Charter Communications
A new phenomenon is sweeping our lives, involving both small and large devices communicating with each other, and providing rich information that enhances how we live, work, and play. We can tell from miles away if our home is at the right temperature if the porch light is on or if the front door is locked. This is possible because thermostats, bulbs, and door locks can communicate their status, receive commands and act on them. These devices employ a range of network protocols to communicate over the Internet. By using the Internet as the medium, devices can be placed in geographically dispersed locations and still provide near real-time status or environmental reading.
However, this type of convenience comes with a price i.e., how can IoT devices be adequately secured given their constrained nature? How can they fend for themselves in a hostile network environment? These devices are often inexpensive, easy to use, and quick to set up. However, they lack the proper hardware and software security needed to ensure data privacy and integrity.