We can connect everything to the Internet – from our computers and phones, through a TV to cars. Products have become our smart companions. Owing to the Internet of Things (IoT), we are able to create smart homes and cities, as well as mobility-aided industry. Nobody is surprised any more that we can manage our washing machine or home lighting via a smartphone app.
A smart fridge that autonomously checks what it stores and is able to order what’s missing? Which gives us hints what we can have for supper based on available products? This is not a novelty. Owing to integrated systems, we are, for example, able to remotely change the heating temperature in our homes. All these devices are equipped with processors that are capable of more than only processing data and communicating with each other.
IoT in Smart City
IoT is revolutionizing urban management. The main idea behind Smart City is the utilization of new technologies to improve the quality of life of city residents and limit its functional costs. For example, your daily commute can be made more enjoyable. Special street-mounted sensors read information about unfavourable road conditions, traffic jams or accidents. Another example may be an intelligent traffic light system. It controls the vehicles in such a way so as to improve traffic flow. This means saved time for drivers.
Smart City also means a clean city. Waste management is now much easier. Special sensors are installed in garbage can, informing the user when and where to empty the bin. Next, the signal is forwarded to a waste sorting plants and recycling centres. This enables the city to optimize its resources, which leads to reducing costs in the end.
Beacons as a response to queues
Beacons are a further example of the IoT-class devices. They send an extremely precise radio signal that enables locating a person inside a building. Their operation is based on microlocation, which is much more accurate than a regular GPS signal. Thus, beacons can eliminate the issue of queues in shops. Having such a device, we can simply walk into a store, pick up a blouse and just leave, skipping the cash register. The price will be automatically debited from your account, and you will instantly receive an e-invoice and information on collected funds. Once again, this means saving time.
IoT = threat
This technology provides us with new possibilities; however, they also entail numerous threats – particularly in the context of privacy and security. Many high-profile cyberattacks utilizing IoT have been recorded in recent years. Websites like Amazon, Netflix or Spotify have fallen victim to them. To launch the attack, hackers used millions of different devices connected to the Internet – e.g., cameras.
One of the most famous cyberattacks took place during the fighting in Ukraine. Yaroslav Sherstyuk, a Ukrainian officer, developed an Android app. Its objective was to calculate the trajectory of the Ukrainian D-30 howitzer. A facility of the app was to, among others, enter one’s exact position. Unfortunately, Russian hackers infected the app with malware. It enabled the separatists to easily track phone users. This resulted in the loss of 80% of the D-30 howitzers and 50% of all artillery weapons by the Ukrainian side, within two years of the fighting.
Cybercriminals are getting “better” armed and younger. They exploit vulnerabilities in IoT devices to infect them. Unfortunately, the biggest threats to our safety are still ourselves. We often use unauthenticated software sources and do not care about security. This provides the hackers with numerous opportunities to break into our devices without much hassle and to have insight into our private or (even worse) business data. Failure to think security is a big problem – especially for companies. This is why more corporations implement data encryption systems and a multi-stage access control. This gives them control over the transmitted messages or cloud services.
What next?
“There is currently no doubt that the Internet of Things will not only be another gadget, but will become an integral element of our life – a better life. The human-machine communication network, and machine-machine in particular, will be a key element of the entire universe referred to as the Internet of Things” – says Michał Szczęsny, Director of the Network Planning and Architecture Office at EXATEL.
The numerous threats appearing along with the Internet of Things will not stop its development. According to the Ericsson Mobility Report, 29 billion devices will be connected to the Internet by 2022, with approx. 18 billion to the IoT.
As with any new technology, the Internet of Things requires an intelligent approach. It can greatly improve our lives, and provide hundreds of new opportunities. It can also, however, constitute a source of previously unknown hazards. Therefore, please remember about basic cybersecurity habits and, above all, consciously use this technology, and do not be afraid of drawing on the experience of professionals.
