Internet of Things

E. Brisku, K. Maris, A. Sakelariou, V. Mouzas, P. Boufeas, V. Sdralis, S. Pelekis

What is it?
The Internet of Things (also referred
to its acronym “IoT”) is a complex, yet
simple, network of devices or “things”
embedded with sensors, processors &
other systems, that gather and
exchange data from other
interconnected devices through
(mostly) the worldwide web.
How does it
work?
As explained before, IoT devices;
connect and exchange data with
each other through the internet. The
exact way the IoT network works
depends largely on the specifications
of each given application. Although,
the general concept in every
application is based on the same
fundamentals.
Applications
Nowadays, almost everyone’s lives
depend on IoT devices, and on the
internet. This ranges from home
appliances to medical or government
ones. Thus, since society is hugely
interconnected with the internet,
there are some risks to keep in mind.
Vulnerabilities
What are they?
Since the dependance on IoT systems
is so vast, it is critical that they are
always up and running.
Unfortunately, this is not always the
case. Some people, or groups of
people, find ways to interrupt the
proper function of these systems.
This might not be a huge issue if a
“smart” light bulb is targeted, but it is
an enormous one, if, for example, a
health care system is.
Who to blame?
The answer to this question is not as
straight forward as it might seem to
someone. For example, if the debate
is for a home system, given that the
user has set up everything as he was
instructed by the manufacturer, then
it is clearly the manufacturer’s fault.
On the other hand, if it is about a
complex system that many
manufacturers and companies are
involved the answer is not as simple
to give.
Ethics
What is
happening?
Since the dependance on IoT systems
is so vast, it is critical that they are
always up and running.
Unfortunately, this is not always the
case. Some people, or groups of
people, find ways to interrupt the
proper function of these systems.
This might not be a huge issue if a
“smart” light bulb is targeted, but it is
an enormous one, if, for example, a
health care system is.
Regulations
The answer to this question is not as
straight forward as it might seem to
someone. For example, if the debate
is for a home system, given that the
user has set up everything as he was
instructed by the manufacturer, then
it is clearly the manufacturer’s fault.
On the other hand, if it is about a
complex system that many
manufacturers and companies are
involved the answer is not as simple
to give.
Conclusion
End user
responsibility
Since the dependance on IoT systems
is so vast, it is critical that they are
always up and running.
Unfortunately, this is not always the
case. Some people, or groups of
people, find ways to interrupt the
proper function of these systems.
This might not be a huge issue if a
“smart” light bulb is targeted, but it is
an enormous one, if, for example, a
health care system is.