IoT is being adopted across all sectors, including homes, offices, and factories. While it offers great convenience, damage from cyberattacks targeting IoT devices has been increasing in recent years, making security measures an urgent priority. Here, we will clarify potential risks and explain approaches and specific methods for security measures.
IoT and Security Measures
IoT (Internet of Things) is an abbreviation for " Internet of Things " and refers to a system that connects various objects to the internet to exchange data. Its scope is diverse, including home appliances, automobiles, robots, sensors, and smart speakers.
Connecting objects to the internet provides unprecedented functionality and convenience, but also brings the risk of external security breaches. Since internet connectivity creates contact points with the outside world, any security vulnerabilities make them targets for external attacks. When implementing IoT, it is essential to recognize security threats and implement appropriate security measures.
The government also places importance on IoT security measures, and in 2016, the IoT Acceleration Consortium, the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry jointly formulated the " IoT Security Guidelines ver1.0 ". The aim is to create an environment where IoT can be used with confidence by clarifying and recommending necessary initiatives for ensuring IoT security, and to encourage active development in industry.
Reference: "IoT Security Guidelines ver1.0 Overview" (IoT Acceleration Consortium • Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications • Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry)
*The above " IoT Security Guidelines ver1.0 Overview " is also explained in the article 'What You Should Know First for Secure IoT: " IoT Security Guidelines "'.
What Are the Risks When IoT Security Measures Are Inadequate?
What risks can be expected if a cyberattack occurs when IoT security measures are not properly implemented? Let's review them below.
Risk of Information Leakage
Some IoT systems, such as sensors, cameras, smart speakers, and management servers, record personal information and confidential information. Therefore, if attacked with malicious intent, there is a risk that important information for individuals and companies could leak externally. If unauthorized access is permitted, it can not only result in information leakage but also lead to situations that threaten business operations due to loss of corporate credibility.
Risk of Causing Physical Accidents
When subjected to a cyberattack, IoT devices may not be properly controlled, potentially causing physical accidents. For example, if an automobile becomes uncontrollable, it could cause life-threatening accidents. The same applies if IoT equipment in a factory is compromised.
Risk of Unknowingly Becoming a Perpetrator
There are many cases where IoT devices are hijacked by external attacks and unknowingly used as relay points (stepping stones) for attacks on other IoT devices or sites. While this is damage from " stepping stone attacks " by malicious third parties, it also carries the risk of becoming a perpetrator complicit in cyberattacks. You may be held responsible for the damage caused.
How Should IoT Security Measures Be Approached?
How should security measures be advanced to protect against the threat of cyberattacks that carry serious risks? We will introduce a general approach in three steps.
Inventory of IoT Devices
First, conduct an inventory of IoT devices that need to be managed. By understanding everything that requires management, it becomes easier to identify subsequent risks and implement countermeasures. What's important here is to ensure nothing is overlooked. In a company, it's necessary to approach this company-wide rather than ending at the department level.
Understanding Communication Paths
Once you have identified the IoT devices that need to be managed, investigate what communication paths each device uses for communication. The key is to clarify all communication paths and create a state where the overall network picture can be visualized from a bird's-eye view. In this initiative, situations where unnecessary IoT devices or internet connections have been left unattended may be discovered, allowing you to address them and reduce cyberattack risks.
Identifying Potential Risks and Countermeasures
Analyze each IoT device including communication paths and communication content to identify risk factors. Also, understand the scope of impact if risks materialize. Based on these, decide what should be addressed, in what scope, and in what priority order, and implement security measures for each device.
Specific Examples of Security Measures
IoT devices are diverse and the necessary measures differ for each, but here we introduce four specific examples of security measures that are common across different devices.
Changing Default Passwords
Changing default passwords is a basic security measure that should be performed when deploying IoT devices. While it should be an easy measure to implement, the reality is that a very large number of devices have not done so, which causes cyberattacks to succeed. For example, the malware " Mirai " that became a topic in recent years mainly targeted home IoT devices, and infections spread explosively because many were being used with default passwords.
Firmware Updates
Even when security measures are in place, new vulnerabilities in devices may be discovered over time. While it becomes a cat-and-mouse game as attackers' techniques also advance, it is important to always update to the latest firmware. Since there are cases where malware is embedded in firmware, downloads should be performed from legitimate official sites.
Communication Port Management
As a means of attacking IoT devices, the proportion targeting communication ports open to the outside is increasing. IoT devices often have ports open to communicate with other devices, making them targets for attacks. By managing unused ports so they are not left open, the risk of port-based attacks can be significantly reduced.
Confirm Manufacturer Support Before Purchase
When introducing new devices, confirm whether the product can receive appropriate firmware updates and support. No matter how much users implement countermeasures, security cannot be ensured if vulnerabilities are left unaddressed on the device side. Position this as a key point in product selection.
Summary
With the rapid spread of IoT, the importance of security measures is increasing. Not only companies • organizations but also households need to approach security measures as their own responsibility. To use IoT devices with confidence, first recognize the risks and implement thorough countermeasures.