IoT: Their Conveniences, Security Challenges and Possible Solutions

The build-in internet-controlled functions of smart devices such as smart phone, smart television, home healthcare gadget, etc., have made them quite attractive to many segments of consumers. In recent years mankind has witnessed an upsurge usage of such devices for numerous purposes. In this paper, the author is going to show how previously forecasted security challenges of these devices are becoming realities in the present day life. The paper initially provides some introductory information about the topic, mostly by means of survey and citations of previous work. It then highlights the devastating effects of October 21, 2016 DDoS attack which mainly utilized IoT devices. It emphasizes the danger of recently revealed Mirai IoT botnet which serves as the basis for the DDoS-for-hire ‘booter’/ ‘stresser’ service. In terms of counter measures, after highlighting IoT security implementation challenges, numerous approaches are presented. As a long-term solution, an architecture wherein security issues are managed through universal home gateway by network operators in a product based fashion is emphasized. The author shows its technical feasibility and demonstrates its partial materialization in proprietary manners. It then explains why and how numerous stake holders are needed to get together for its wide range commercial implementation. Some immediate necessary safeguard actions and intermediate schemes which include soft infrastructures are also presented for the purpose of risk reduction