The Internet of Things (IoT, Internet of Thing) has been associated with major cyber attacks, usually involving the abuse of vulnerable networked devices (such as surveillance cameras) to assist in malicious activities. Of course, people from all walks of life have expressed doubts about whether the Internet of Things can ensure the safety of billions of devices connected to the huge Internet, and have requested to provide feasible solutions to fill this security gap. At this time, it is the blockchain, which is a relatively new technology that is expected to reduce the risk of intrusion into IoT devices through central institutions, while improving the scalability of IoT implementation. In principle, it can protect the IoT network in various ways, such as forming a group consensus against abnormal network behavior, and isolating any nodes that are not operating according to regulations.
Two key enabling factors are combined into one: when the Internet of Things meets the blockchain
Over the decades, the Internet of Things has expanded significantly and connected various devices and networks, including homes, workplaces, transportation systems, and even entire cities. On the other hand, a blockchain that has been around for ten years will revolutionize the business model through its encryption and distributed ledger (to create real-time records that prevent tampering). Through the collaborative operation of the Internet of Things and the blockchain, the latter is expected to provide a verifiable and secure recording method for the former devices and processes.
The blockchain operates as a distributed ledger and will record every deletion or modification of data. As more data (blocks) are added, a longer chain of events will be established. Each transaction carried is accompanied by a digital signature and can never be changed or deleted. Due to the decentralized nature of the blockchain, it can theoretically prevent vulnerable devices from pushing false information and destroying the network environment, whether it is a smart home or a smart factory.
In a recent and notable IoT security incident, blockchain can reduce the risk of distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks that affect multiple devices at the same time: one device interruption should not affect other devices . We have noticed this problem in protecting the safety of smart cities. Such expedient measures are very important for maintaining the connection and function of services, especially critical systems.
Using blockchain, each device will have strong encryption capabilities to further ensure the security of communication with other devices and provide anonymity in the Internet of Things use case where privacy is the most important. Adopters will be able to more properly track devices and release security updates to help strengthen potentially vulnerable devices.
Blockchain: a necessary link between security and IOT (Internet of Things)?
Figure 1: Blockchain in the Internet of Things: potential benefits
The combination of blockchain and Internet of Things is also expected to solve regulatory issues. For example, transactions conducted by multiple sources in an enterprise can be managed through constant and transparent records, tracking data and physical commodities throughout the supply chain. In the event of a wrong decision or system overload, the blockchain record should be able to identify the problem (such as a device or sensor), and the enterprise can take immediate action. Blockchain also helps reduce operating costs because it does not require intermediaries or intermediaries.
IoT blockchain implementation and use cases
Blockchain is not only a distributed ledger that is the basis of cryptocurrencies (most notably Bitcoin). In fact, it has been used in different industries, including retail, to simplify and ensure the safety of products moving in the supply chain, while in the pharmaceutical industry it is used to ensure the integrity of contracts, clinical trials, and the drugs themselves. By integrating the blockchain into the above and other industries, the quality level of products and services can be closely monitored.
In the field of Internet of Things, blockchain is also increasingly popular. One company has begun to provide a blockchain protection security platform for the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT). This solution is hailed as the first and only solution. Its goal is to allow more participants to control consensus and improve the system's backup capabilities to solve the vast attack surface of the Internet of Things. Research centers focusing on blockchain have also been formed to promote the development and commercialization of this technology and the ability to innovate the IoT ecosystem.
Challenges of integrating blockchain into the Internet of Things
The blockchain in the Internet of Things is indeed developing rapidly, but it is not without obstacles. First of all, the key concept of blockchain is a series of completed transactions and the way they form a chain. This chain is established by retaining reference data of past transactions and then forming blocks. However, building blocks requires a lot of calculations, and requires multiple processors and a lot of time to generate. Since it is very difficult to generate a block, it is equally difficult to tamper with it: the tamperer must tamper with the previous block and follow the established chain to completely change it.
This mechanism seems to be ideal for protecting the security of the Internet of Things. However, it must be noted that the computing power of IoT devices is relatively insufficient, and the underlying blockchain communication protocol will bring overhead traffic and generate blocks that may cause delays. The above situation is not a good sign for devices with limited resources and limited bandwidth, and for operations that require real-time updates or fast response.
In terms of security risks, researchers have classified threats related to accessibility, anonymity, and identity verification and access control. Malicious actors may prevent users from accessing data or services through denial of service (DoS) attacks and cloud storage intrusion, which threaten accessibility. In addition, they can also search for links between users ’anonymous transactions and other public information to try to identify specific users. They will also try to obtain data as a legal user, but the system can detect threats of identity verification and access control, because all transactions will be recorded and verified by users in the blockchain.
In addition, in this year's security forecast, we predict that the blockchain will be used by threat actors to expand its escape technology. It is speculated that IoT sensors and devices may be threatened by transmitting incorrect information to the blockchain, and it is also possible. Through this technology, if a piece of data passes the authentication, it will be recorded in the blockchain. Therefore, adopters need to ensure that sensors and devices are prepared for coverage when they are compromised, and only grant access to users who are responsible for control.
Safety advice
In normal operation, the blockchain can bring great benefits to the Internet of Things system by reducing costs and improving efficiency. Even so, the penetration of this technology in the Internet of Things environment is still not far from the best state. For example, it is expected that by 2020, at most 10% of production blockchain ledgers will be integrated into IoT sensors. Moreover, there is still a long way to go before the computing power of most IoT systems is sufficient to cope with the huge blockchain implementation.
Although the single point of failure has not yet been eliminated, the focus of protecting the security of the Internet of Things is still the continuous safe deployment of all networked devices. In addition to updating the software in time to prevent downtime, individuals and organizations adopting the Internet of Things should pay attention to a complete multi-layer security protection, from gateways to endpoints, to prevent any potential network intrusion and destruction. this needs:
Change the default certificate. The original factory preset credentials have led the Internet of Things to become notoriously a botnet and invade connected devices. Therefore, it is recommended that users enable password protection and use unique and complex passwords to reduce the risk of device hacking.
Strengthen router security. A vulnerable router leads to a vulnerable network. Protecting router security with a complete security solution allows users to master all connected devices while maintaining privacy and productivity.
Set the device to ensure safety. The default settings of the device should be checked and modified according to user needs. It is recommended to customize functions and disable unnecessary functions to improve security.
Monitor network traffic. Actively scan the network for abnormal behaviors to help users prevent any malicious attempts. Through real-time scanning provided by security solutions, automatic and efficient malware detection can also be implemented.
Implement additional safety measures. It is recommended that users enable the firewall and use the Wi-Fi Protected Access II (WPA2) secure communication protocol to increase protection. The use of web reputation evaluation and application-controlled solutions can also provide better visibility for the network.
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