Experts find IoT security lacking

By R. Colin Johnson,EEtimes,AUSTIN, Texa, May. 18, 2016 – 

Is the Internet of Things (IoT) secure yet? The short answer, according to a panel of experts exploring the subject at the NXP/FTF Technology Forum 2016 (May 17-19) here, is a resounding "no".

The every expanding Internet, the ever-widening smartphone networks and the connected car industry have made piece-meal advances, but at a snail's pace compared to the need, according to the panelists. But not just standards of communication-which are already evolving-but standards of specification that are simple to do-like the labels on food-rather than the "terms of use" that nobody reads need to be simplified by government mandate to bring order to the Universe of Things.

"Cybersecurity is one of the foremost concerns of our age," said Greg Kahn, chief executive officer (CEO) and president at the Internet of Things Consortium. "Attacks have skyrocketed since 2014, costing companies up to $1 trillion per year to defend against them. What's worse is that the hackers are getting smarter. Seemingly secure information is streaming back to criminal organizations and malicious foreign governments."

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