Improving Security in Smart Home Networks through user-defined device interaction rules

Abstract

Internet of Things (IoT) devices and applications are growing for smart home use cases. Although various security risks have been identified in smart home devices, studies reveal that the majority of the smart home devices released in the market have multiple security vulnerabilities and, in many cases, no security mechanisms are implemented. These vulnerabilities of smart home networks are mostly attributed to user unawareness of security. Many users are not aware and do not have the technical skills or knowledge of what is happening on their devices in their smart home environment. When an intruder connects to their device or takes advantage of it, users are unaware of such a connection. This paper introduces a configuration tool that helps users to create device interaction rules that are added to an existing Network Intrusion Detection System (NIDS) in the smart home network. These rules generate alarms that alert the user if unwanted interaction takes place between their devices or from an external network, and in this way increases user awareness of the security of their smart home network.