Securing IoT Devices Against Emerging Security Threats: Challenges and Mitigation Techniques

Abstract

ABSTRACT The increasing prevalence of IoT devices has brought about numerous security challenges due to their relatively simple internal architecture and low-powered hardware warranted by their small footprint requirement. As there are billions of IoT devices in use today, the sheer number of such devices pose a great security challenge as they are often constrained by a number of hardware and software limitations in addition to being designed with a focus on convenience, ease of use, mass production, and low cost, rather than security. The seemingly exponentially increasing number of such devices make it harder to keep track of – and patch – insecure IoT devices. This paper explores the common security threats, attacks, and vulnerabilities relating to IoT devices and highlights the challenges associated with securing them against emerging security threats and cyberattacks. Due to their role as gateways to connected devices and susceptibility to forming botnets or facilitating man-in-the-middle attacks, IoT devices are a lucrative target for cybercriminals. The paper discusses various remediation and mitigation techniques that can be implemented to better secure IoT devices, including access control mechanisms, secure communication protocols, and regular updates and patches. By better understanding the security challenges associated with IoT devices and implementing effective mitigation techniques, individuals and businesses can ensure the safety, security, and privacy of their connected devices and networks.