The Internet of Things is every physical device ( smart devices) with sensors and software that enable communication and allow sharing of data with other IOT and the cloud. They do not need an internet connection in all cases just connected to the network.
EXAMPLE OF IOT IN DIFFERENT SECTORS
1, HOMES: There are smart homes, which are houses that use IOT technology or devices to increase the comfort, convenience, and security of the home and are controlled remotely by your smartphone or computer. examples of this are smart door locks, smart TVs, smart lighting systems, smart cameras, voice-activated personal assistants, etc.
2, SMART CITIES: we have undeveloped, underdeveloped, and developed cities, the smart cities are the developed cities which are also called the urban areas. these developed cities use IOT devices to enhance resource usage, monitor traffic with smart traffic management systems, use smart streetlights, street cameras, etc.
3, HEALTH CARE: The healthcare sector uses IOT to monitor patient health remotely, and improve and enhance their health and care. examples are wearable fitness trackers, glucose monitoring, heart rate monitoring, mood monitoring, etc.
4, EMERGENCY RESPONSE SYSTEM: These IOT sensors are used in places where disasters such as earthquakes, floods, and wildfires are prone to happen to get early warning signals.
5, AGRICULTURE: IoT with sensors are used at the farm to monitor crops and the crop field from anywhere, such as light, soil moisture, fertilizer applications, etc.
THREATS THAT COMES WITH IoT
IOT helps in various ways making life easier and enhancing the security and safety of individuals and nations at large but everything with an advantage also comes with a disadvantage. so here are the threats and challenges of IOT
1, SECURITY: yes, it helps with security but when compromised due to lack of update and default password, it becomes very dangerous because it can be used for various malicious activities such as unauthorized access, data theft, denial of service, and many more.
2, PRIVACY INVASION: IoT collects vast amounts of data, including personal and sensitive information, if these devices are compromised, the attackers can get access to all of these data, leading to data breaches and misuse of information.
3, UNAUTHORIZED CONTROL: Hackers can take control of devices. for instance, they can manipulate smart home devices causing disruption or harm, using them for malicious activities.
4, DISTRIBUTED DENIAL OF SERVICE (DDOS): IoT devices that have been compromised can be used to form botnets, which are networks of infected devices controlled by attackers, they can launch large-scale DDOS attacks, overwhelming the targeted system with traffic and cause the legitimate user unable to access the network.
5, LACK OF REGULAR UPDATES: IoT devices often have inadequate mechanisms for software updates and patches, leaving known vulnerabilities unaddressed. This lack of maintenance can make them susceptible to exploits and long-term security risks.
PREVENTION STRATEGIES
-Implement strong authentication and access controls.
-Regularly update and patch IoT devices.
-Use encryption to protect data in transit and at rest.
-Employ network segmentation to isolate IoT devices from critical systems.
-Conduct regular security assessments and vulnerability testing.
-Educate users and employees about IoT security best practices.
-Choose IoT devices from reputable manufacturers with a strong security track record.
By addressing these threats proactively, the risks associated with IoT can be significantly reduced, allowing for safer and more reliable use of interconnected devices.
THANK YOU FOR READING :)
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