Internet of Things, or IoT as the cool kids call it, is seemingly everywhere. Lightbulbs, thermostats, cameras, watches, glasses, t-shirts, and a growing army of “things.” Each of these are connected back to a smart hub (typically a smartphone app) that allows them to be interconnected and centrally controlled. The word Internet implies certain qualities of these things. It implies that they operate much like a webpage. The reality is that each is closer in qualities to a networked computer or router.
The single biggest drawback to all of this is security. On the internet if a single page is hacked you may need to change a password or two – if it is a personal page you may lose your data. In the world of IoT, if you get hacked you are locked out of a house that is now at 90 degrees on the interior.
This is a feature of the system though. IoT is the literal way of digitally interfacing with physical objects that control other actual objects that impact the environment you occupy. Most people don’t naturally realize this because of the name. It’s really cool and simple marketing but it is misleading the common consumer. I have met people who bought connected light bulbs because it was the cool thing to do with no understanding of the security implications of doing so. Yes, the threat is relatively small for a given consumer but identity theft operates on the same principle. Hit a few people here and there to keep the problem small but the net impact over time becomes quite large. At least with identity theft you have a bank ready to help you clean up the fall-out.
Realistically, the convenience of a digital interface to physical objects is huge. There is no stepping back from this new world we are entering. It would be nice if we allowed the people impacted by what is going on to really understand the implications of what is happening and the fundamental shift away from how both the Internet and Things work.