Modern security threats in the Internet of Things (IoT): Attacks and Countermeasures

Abstract

The Internet of Things (IoT) is the emerging network of hardware and software components connected to daily life activities for bringing reliability and convenience. The network mostly consists of heterogeneous devices, each having different protocols. The technology is evolving and bringing many new IoT devices into the market. IoT devices help users to lead a convenient life because of their capabilities such as processing, storage, and networking. It also helps in the field of automation, healthcare, and data analytics. However, the security of the IoT network is still a concern for the developers and users. The heterogeneous nature of the network makes it difficult for the developers to safeguard the network. On the other hand, it opens a wide range of opportunity for the attackers to compromise the confidentiality, integrity, or availability of the system. Some of the major attacks are Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS), Man In The Middle (MITM) and replay attacks. As the human elements are integrated with the IoT infrastructure, it is important to consider the security of the data and the operation of the device. The evolution of modern technologies leads to modern threats and attacks on the network, increasing the need for strict security and preventive measures. This paper presents the possible vulnerabilities in the modern IoT network along with their countermeasures to prevent them from the perspective of software, hardware, and network infrastructure. The overview could help the reader to gain insight into the IoT network threats and security.