April 15 this year is the ninth "National Security Education Day" in mainland China. The theme of the 2024 National Security Education Day is "The Overall National Security Concept, the 10th Anniversary of Innovation and Leadership". Actively practice the overall concept of national security, carry out education on the rule of law on national security for the whole people, understand the achievements of national security in the new era, increase the national security awareness and protection quality of the whole people, and make the preservation of national security run through the entire process of all aspects of the work of the Party and the state, so as to ensure national security and social stability.
With the rapid development of the Internet and mobile communication technology, the Internet of Things technology has become the focus of attention in various fields around the world. At present, IoT technology has been widely used in various industries such as industrial manufacturing, healthcare, transportation, smart home, and environmental protection, improving production efficiency and quality of life. However, while enjoying the convenience it brings, we are also facing serious challenges in terms of cybersecurity, such as device security breaches, increased cyber attacks, data privacy breaches, supply chain security risks, etc. Once IoT devices are hacked, not only the user's private information may be leaked, but also may be used to launch large-scale cyber attacks, seriously threatening national network security. Therefore, we need to conduct in-depth research and discussion on the cybersecurity issues of IoT devices in order to better cope with the relevant challenges and ensure cyber security.
IoT security risks and challenges
The Internet of Things refers to a network that connects daily physical objects with the Internet according to the agreed agreement through information sensing devices such as radio frequency identification (RFID), infrared sensors, global positioning systems, laser scanners, etc., and realizes intelligent identification, positioning, tracking, monitoring and management. The architecture of the Internet of Things is typically divided into three main layers: the perception layer, the network transport layer, and the application layer. The perception layer provides the ability to obtain data, the network layer realizes the transmission and exchange of data, and the application layer transforms data into actual value and functions.
Due to the need to realize the interactive transmission of information at all levels and between IoT devices, IoT devices are facing multiple cybersecurity challenges:
1. Equipment safety hazards
(1) There are common security vulnerabilities in the device. Due to cost and function limitations, many IoT devices lack adequate security protection measures when designed, and there are various security vulnerabilities, such as weak passwords and lack of encryption. These vulnerabilities can be easily exploited by hackers to hack devices and take control of them.
(2) Insufficient device firmware updates and patches. After IoT devices leave the factory, it is difficult for manufacturers to find and patch security vulnerabilities in a timely manner, and it is difficult for users to update the device firmware on their own. Once the vulnerability is discovered, these devices are also difficult to repair in time and will become the "soft underbelly" of hacker attacks.
(3) There is a lack of unified security standards for IoT devices. IoT devices produced by different manufacturers have great differences in security protection measures, and the lack of unified security standards and specifications has brought challenges and inconvenience to network security management.
(4) The device is forgotten. Due to the sheer number of IoT devices, some may be forgotten, such as those that have become obsolete. These devices can be targeted by hackers, leading to cybersecurity issues.
2. Network security risks
With the intelligent development of the Internet of Things, the number and variety of cyber attacks are increasing. Hackers can gain control of IoT devices through cyberattacks, allowing them to take control of the device, steal data, and compromise systems. For example, hackers can exploit vulnerabilities in IoT devices to conduct remote attacks and steal sensitive data such as users' personal information and bank account information. In addition, hackers can also use IoT devices to carry out distributed denial-of-service attacks (DDoS), resulting in network paralysis and serious impact on normal production and life.
3. Data security risks
IoT devices typically collect and transmit sensitive data such as users' personal information and behavioral data. This data, if stolen or leaked by hackers, poses a serious threat to the user's privacy. For example, smart home devices may collect information such as the user's home location, living habits, etc., which will pose a serious threat to the user's privacy if this information is stolen by hackers. In addition, IoT devices may also collect and transmit sensitive data such as business secrets and production data, which will cause serious losses to the business interests of enterprises if the data is stolen.
IoT security measures
We must attach great importance to the cybersecurity challenges in the era of the Internet of Things and take effective measures to effectively protect the security of user information.
1. Strengthen equipment security
The security of IoT devices is the foundation of IoT security. To improve the security of IoT devices, the following measures need to be taken:
(1) Strengthen the safety design of equipment. When designing IoT devices, the security of the devices should be fully considered, secure communication protocols, encryption algorithms and other technologies should be adopted to strengthen the identity authentication and authorization management of IoT devices, and a sound security mechanism should be established to ensure the security of communication between devices.
(2) Strengthen the safety inspection of equipment. Before the equipment leaves the factory, strict safety testing is carried out to ensure the safety of the equipment. And regularly conduct security detection and vulnerability fixing on IoT devices to avoid attacks by malware or viruses.
(3) Strengthen the safety certification of equipment. Implement strong authentication mechanisms, such as multi-factor authentication, to ensure that only authorized devices can connect to the network.
2. Strengthen network data security
(1) Strengthen network security management. Establish a sound security management system, strengthen the monitoring and management of network equipment, network traffic, network behavior, etc., so as to discover and deal with network security problems in a timely manner.
(2) Strengthen network security protection. Isolate your IoT device network from other critical networks to reduce your potential attack surface. Deploy security protection measures such as intrusion prevention systems, firewalls, real-time network monitoring, and anti-virus software to detect and respond to abnormal traffic and potential threats in a timely manner, and conduct regular security audits.
(3) Strengthen data security protection. Encrypt transmitted and stored data to prevent data from being intercepted or tampered with during transmission. In addition, protective measures such as classified and hierarchical management of data, regular backup of key data, data access control and auditing, anonymization of personal information, and data integrity verification are implemented to prevent data leakage and abuse and realize the full life cycle management of data.
3. Strengthen personal protection awareness
Personal protection awareness is the first line of defense for IoT security. It is necessary to strengthen the security education of the Internet of Things to the public, so that everyone can understand the potential risks of Internet of Things devices and improve the awareness of security protection. For example, choose IoT products with good security protection measures, regularly check the security status of the device, update software patches in a timely manner, and connect IoT devices in a secure network environment to avoid the equipment being used by hackers, resulting in personal information leakage and property losses.
The rise of Internet of Things technology has undoubtedly brought great convenience to our lives, but it has also brought many challenges. In the face of this situation, we must take active measures to improve the system of policies and regulations, strengthen the technical strength of security protection, improve the public's awareness of IoT security, and ensure the security, data confidentiality and network integrity of IoT devices. While enjoying the convenience brought by the Internet of Things, we can effectively prevent and respond to potential security threats, and jointly promote the construction of a safe and intelligent living environment.