In 2016, the most prominent cyberattack on public record happened because of vulnerabilities in over 600,000 small, innocuous devices connected to the Internet. By harnessing the collective power of devices such as home routers and thermostats, cyber criminals were able to cripple major websites/systems such as power grid systems. This demonstration showed, without a doubt, that the security of the Internet of Things is a major concern.
From the consumer perspective, joint research between Internet Society and Consumers International has revealed some consumer attitudes toward the Internet of Things. A high number of people (75%) distrust the way data is shared. Consumers are also thinking about the need for more formal regulation in the market. It is likely that this demand will grow as information about the risks associated with connected products becomes more widespread.
Starting from those concerns, this session will identify the security challenges throughout the complete process of IoT service delivery – from the infrastructure to the application layer. Speakers from different stakeholder groups will discuss the solutions and challenges from their perspectives and the complexities of maintaining security when considering the different private actors involved in producing, operating and using IoT devices and onto the rights, roles and responsibilities of consumers and regulators in using and overseeing such devices. The panel will also share their policy views regarding providing security for the consumer, the data and the IoT devices themselves, to achieve the better IoT in the future.
