Security

Can Blockchain Solve IoT Security and Privacy Issues?

Brad Smith Brad Smith July 22, 2019
2 minutes read
IoT-Security-Privacy-Issues-BlockchainLand
Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

There’s no denying that the Internet of Things (IoT) has a handful of major security and privacy problems. From Amazon’s Alexa ‘spying’ on our conversations to easily hackable pacemakers, connected devices have let the industry and their users down, time and time again. Trust in IoT is so low that almost two-thirds of the market consider connected devices as “creepy”.

On the other hand, IoT has a huge potential to make our lives better. Whether it’s medical devices monitoring patients’ health or sensors optimizing energy use at our homes, IoT can bring significant advantages to nearly any industry.

With security and privacy issues standing in the way of the technology’s safe adoption, the big question is: Can blockchain help the Internet of Things reach its full potential?

Internet of Spying Things

It’s no longer paranoid to worry that your smart home or fitness trackers are spying on you. This year, it was reported that Amazon employees are listening to users’ Alexa recordings as part of AI training. Not much later, the news broke that Google is doing the same with Google Home. Even though the samples were anonymized, Google whistleblowers reported that some recordings allowed to re-identify the users. They also claimed to have heard anything from bedroom activities to domestic violence on the tapes, proving that no material is too sensitive for tech corporates to use.

In Amazon’s case, users could opt out of the function “Help Develop New Features” in the device settings. But until the scandal blew up, no one knew that “helping develop new features” was Orwellian language for having strangers eavesdrop on you. As is often the case with tech companies, the default option for Amazon and Google was over-collection of data rather than privacy protection.

Even if we rule out the IoT manufacturers spying on us, there are countless examples of connected devices getting hacked. In fact, it’s relatively easy to hack a connected device that when the Atlantic devised a test with a fake wireless toaster, it was compromised within an hour. That’s because IoT’s greatest advantage ⁠— its connectivity ⁠— is a substantial cyber vulnerability at the same time. Security cameras and baby monitors are easy to connect to remotely by just about anyone, including the people you don’t wish to share access with.

Given the nature of the information collected by IoT devices, their hackability is terrifying. Be it a constant stream of data about your health, or a 24/7 video coverage of your kid’s room; this isn’t the kind of information you would want to be compromised.

The good news is that home appliances can be secured with Wi-Fi VPN. If you install a VPN on your router, it will encrypt the traffic on all devices connected to your home Wi-Fi. This way, the data flow from your smart home or security camera will be protected from snooping hackers. The bad news is that this only works for IoT devices you use at home. Your Fitbit or Apple Watch will be exposed to threat as soon as you step outside the secure network.

Is blockchain the answer?

Blockchain is already being integrated with IoT in some industries, such as supply chain management. However, the applications of blockchain for IoT security and privacy are still very much in their infancy.

Initiatives like the Hong Kong-based Blockpass are looking into developing a blockchain-based identification for connected devices that would serve as a form of user and device verification. This could be an effective measure of keeping hackers out. Additionally, the decentralized model could be used to bring more transparency to the way IoT-harvested data is being used. That is, assuming that IoT manufacturers would be willing to give up their data monopoly.

As a technology that has transparency and trust built into its DNA, blockchain can potentially offer IoT a lot in terms of increasing security. On the flipside, blockchain is computationally expensive and involves high bandwidth overhead, which the current IoT industry isn’t likely to sustain.

While blockchain is the perfect answer, in theory, we might have to wait a while before it becomes one in practice across the industry.

Brad Smith

Brad Smith

Brad Smith is a technology expert at TurnOnVPN, a non-profit promoting a safe, secure, and censor-free internet. He writes about his dream for a free internet and unravels the horror behind big techs.

Related Articles

OeKB-blockchainLand
October 1, 2018
14

Austria Will Issue Ethereum-Based Blockchain Government Bonds

réglementation suisse
December 18, 2018
22

Switzerland Set to Bring Changes to Regulatory Framework

blockchain-coins-ico-scams-blockchainland
August 20, 2018
24

Cybercriminals accumulated over $2mln on crypto giveaways

Cryptocurrency-fraud-action-fraud-blockchainland
August 21, 2018
6

UK Watchdog Reports $2 Million Lost in Cryptocurrency Scams This Summer

203 Comments

  1. According to academia, Blockchain innovation is a breakthrough in secure computing. Without any centralized system, in an open organized framework, blockchain enables conducting the transactions in the most reliable manner.

    It is estimated that by 2025, the revenue out of blockchain-based venture applications will reach $19.9 billion. The development pace of 26.2% is estimated to get witnessed in the coming years. In the interim, Citibank, HSBC, IBM, Accenture, Goldman Sachs, Morgan Stanley, Microsoft, Cisco, Tencent, Ali and other widely acclaimed budgetary foundations, counseling firms, IT merchants and Internet monsters are quickening lab research and capital format on blockchain innovation. Blockchain in collaboration with big data and artificial intelligence are considered to be the giant leap innovation for the cutting edge financial industry. Notwithstanding Bitcoin.com, a few symmetrical endeavors, for example, the Hyperledger venture supported by IBM and Apache establishment, Ethereum, FileCoin give open-source archives and stages for blockchain development work.

  7. Hello there! Do you know if they make any plugins to safeguard against hackers?I’m kinda paranoid about losing everything I’ve worked hardon. Any recommendations?

  13. Hi there! I know this is somewhat off topic but I was wondering if youknew where I could get a captcha plugin for my comment form?I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having trouble finding one?Thanks a lot!

  14. Hello! I could have sworn I’ve been to this blog before butafter going through many of the articles I realized it’s newto me. Anyways, I’m definitely happy I stumbled upon it and I’ll be book-marking it and checking back frequently!

  16. Aw, this was a really good post. Taking a few minutes and actual effort to make a superb article… but what can I say… I put things off a whole lot and never seem to get anything done.

  17. I haven’t checked in here for a while because I thought it was getting boring, but the last few posts are good quality so I guess I will add you back to my everyday bloglist. You deserve it my friend 🙂

  19. I know this if off topic but I’m looking into starting my own weblog and was wondering what all is required to get set up? I’m assuming having a blog like yours would cost a pretty penny? I’m not very web savvy so I’m not 100 sure. Any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

  25. Hello, this weekend is fastidious in favor of me, as this occasion iam reading this wonderful informative post here at my residence.

  30. Wow! This can be one particular of the most beneficial blogs We’ve ever arrive across on this subject. Basically Excellent. I am also an expert in this topic so I can understand your effort.

  31. A motivating discussion is worth comment. I think that you should publish more about this subject, it might not be a taboo matter but generally people do not talk about these issues. To the next! Cheers!!

  33. Heya! I just wanted to ask if you ever have any problems with hackers?My last blog (wordpress) was hacked and I endedup losing a few months of hard work due tono data backup. Do you have any methods to prevent hackers?

  39. Thanks for enabling me to gain new thoughts about computer systems. I also hold the belief that certain of the best ways to help keep your mobile computer in excellent condition is to use a hard plastic-type case, and also shell, that suits over the top of your computer. A lot of these protective gear will be model unique since they are made to fit perfectly above the natural covering. You can buy these directly from owner, or from third party places if they are for your laptop, however not every laptop could have a shell on the market. Again, thanks for your guidelines.

  56. Hey! This post could not be written anny better! Reading through thispost reminds me of my previous room mate! He always kept talking about this.I will forward this article to him. Pretty sure he will have a good read.Thank you for sharing!

  58. A motivating discussion is worth comment. I do think that you ought to publish more on this topic, it might not be a taboo subject but usually people don’t discuss such issues. To the next! Many thanks.

  66. Hello there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it is really informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I will appreciate if you continue this in future. Numerous people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!

  71. Do you have a spam problem on this blog;I also am a blogger, and I was wondering your situation; we have developed some nice practices andwe are looking to swap solutions with other folks, why not shoot mean e-mail if interested.

  75. Hi there! I know this is kind of off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could finda captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platformas yours and I’m having trouble finding one? Thanks a lot!

  76. Somebody essentially help to make critically articles I would state. This is the very first time I frequented your web page and thus far? I surprised with the research you made to create this particular submit amazing. Magnificent process!

  78. Great post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m inspired!Very helpful info specifically the remaining phase 🙂 I maintain such info much. I used to be looking for this particular information for avery lengthy time. Thanks and best of luck.

  79. I really appreciate this post. I¦ve been looking all over for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thx again

  82. Good day! Do you know if they make any plugins to assist with SEO?I’m trying to get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m not seeing very good success.If you know of any please share. Thanks!

  86. I simply desired to say thanks yet again. I’m not certain the things I could possibly have used without the entire thoughts provided by you directly on that industry. It was before a frightening crisis for me personally, however , viewing a new expert technique you handled it made me to jump over happiness. Extremely happy for this support and even believe you comprehend what an amazing job you have been undertaking training other individuals thru your web site. I’m certain you’ve never got to know any of us.

  87. Nice post. I was checking continuously this blogand I am impressed! Extremely helpful information specifically the last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot.I was seeking this particular info for a long time. Thank you and best of luck.

  90. This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I have joined your rss feed and look forward to seeking more of your magnificent post. Also, I have shared your site in my social networks!

  94. A person necessarily assist to make severely articles I’d state. This is the first time I frequented your web page and to this point? I amazed with the analysis you made to create this particular post extraordinary. Excellent task!

  105. Hey Janela,I completely agree with you.Thank you for finding my post worth your time.Regards,Mamta

  108. These are really fantastic ideas in about blogging.You have touched some pleasant things here. Any way keep up wrinting.

  112. Ich konnte nicht Ihre Website vor verlassen, um anzudeuten, dass ich extrem die standardmäßigen Informationen genossen habe, die eine Person Ihren Besuchern zur Verfügung stellt ? Kommt wird oft zurück sein um nach neuen Posts zu sehen

  114. Wow that was unusual. I just wrote an really long comment but after I clicked submit my comment didn’t appear.Grrrr… well I’m not writing all that over again. Regardless,just wanted to say great blog!

  116. ✅ เว็บตรง มั่นคงจ่ายจริง ไม่มีประวัติการโกง 💯❌ ไม่ผ่านเอเจ้นท์ ทุนหนา จ่ายไวไม่อยากให้เชื่อ แต่❗️ อยากให

  122. Hi friends, how is everything, and what you would like to say about this article, in my view its genuinely remarkable in support of me.

  125. Wow a good deal of amazing material. essay writing service usa dissertations online graduate paper

  129. Hi there friends, how is everything, and what you would like to say on the topic of this article, in my view its genuinely amazing forme.

  140. I will right away snatch your rss as I can’t find your email subscription link or newsletter service.Do you have any? Kindly allow me realize in order that I maysubscribe. Thanks.

  142. Aw, this was an exceptionally nice post. Taking the time and actual effort to produce a very good article… but what can I say… I procrastinate a whole lot and don’t seem to get anything done.

  152. An impressive share! I’ve just forwarded this onto a friend who had been conducting a little homework on this. And he in fact ordered me breakfast simply because I stumbled upon it for him… lol. So let me reword this…. Thank YOU for the meal!! But yeah, thanks for spending time to talk about this subject here on your web page.

  164. whoah this blog is magnificent i love reading your articles. Stay up the great work! You know, a lot of individuals are hunting round for this information, you can aid them greatly.

  166. การเล่นพนันฟุตบอลนั้นก็คือการลงทุนประเภทหนึ่ง และในทุก ๆ การลงทุนนั้นมีความเสี่ยงเกี่ยวข้องด้วยเสมอ

  177. My brother recommended I would possibly like this blog. He was once entirely right. This put up actually made my day. You cann’t consider simply how a lot time I had spent for this info! Thanks!

  181. safe and effective drugs are available. Everything information about medication.
    https://stromectolst.com/# ivermectin over the counter canada
    Definitive journal of drugs and therapeutics. Everything what you want to know about pills.

  183. Hi there, its nice piece of writing regarding media print,we all be familiar with media is a impressive sourceof information.

  185. Hi i ɑm kɑvin, its my firѕt occaѕion to commenting anyplace, when i read this artcle i thought icould also makе comment dսe tօ this brilliant articlｅ.

  187. I would like to thank you for the efforts you have put in writing this blog. I’m hoping to see the same high-grade blog posts from you later on as well. In fact, your creative writing abilities has motivated me to get my own site now 😉

  193. Howdy! Do you know if they make any plugins to assistwith Search Engine Optimization? I’m tryingto get my blog to rank for some targeted keywords but I’m notseeing very good success. If you know of any please share.Many thanks!

  198. Learn about the side effects, dosages, and interactions. Comprehensive side effect and adverse reaction information.
    https://lisinopril.science/# prinivil 5 mg tablets
    Definitive journal of drugs and therapeutics. Comprehensive side effect and adverse reaction information.

  201. I’m impressed, I must say. Seldom do I encounter a blog that’s both equally educative and entertaining, and let me tell you, you’ve hit the nail on the head. The issue is something which too few men and women are speaking intelligently about. I’m very happy that I stumbled across this in my search for something regarding this.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

Close