Security, Cybercrime and Digital Forensics for IoT

Abstract

The Internet of Things (IoT) connects almost all the environment objects whether physical or virtual over the Internet to produce new digitized services that improve people’s lifestyle. Currently, several IoT applications have a direct impact on our daily life activities including smart agriculture, wearables, connected healthcare, connected vehicles, and others. Despite the countless benefits provided by the IoT system, it introduces several security challenges. Resolving these challenges should be one of the highest priorities for IoT manufacturers to continue the successful deployment of IoT applications. The owners of IoT devices should guarantee that effective security measures are built in their devices. With the developments of the Internet, the number of security attacks and cybercrimes has increased significantly. In addition, with poor security measures implemented in IoT devices, the IoT system creates more opportunities for cybercrimes to attack various application and services of the IoT system resulting in a direct impact on users. One of the approaches that tackle the increasing number of cybercrimes is digital forensics. Cybercrimes with the power of the IoT technology can cross the virtual space to threaten human life, therefore, IoT forensics is required to investigate and mitigate against such attacks. This chapter presents a review of IoT security and forensics. It started with reviewing the IoT system by discussing building blocks of an IoT device, essential characteristic, communication technologies and challenges of the IoT. Then, IoT security by highlighting threats and solutions regarding IoT architecture layers are discussed. Digital forensics is also discussed by presenting the main steps of the investigation process. In the end, IoT forensics is discussed by reviewing related IoT forensics frameworks, discussing the need for adopting real-time approaches and showing various IoT forensics.