The Internet of Things ultimately connects commonly used devices to the internet, ranging from cars to refrigerators to medical devices. Although convenience and benefits exist with the Internet of Things, much of our privacy is compromised when our data floats in this somewhat ambiguous “cloud.”
So many Internet of Things devices ignore privacy in its default setting, which many people never disable. For example, FOSCAM, a security camera made by a Chinese firm, has P2P network capabilities within the camera. If the feature is disabled, however, it can still communicate with other P2P devices. Features like this open up opportunities for home network intrusion. Because so many vulnerabilities exist in Internet of Things devices, normal hackers, not just trained spies, can get ahold of the information floating in the internet. We think that the government and intelligence agencies are the only people analyzing our information, but common criminals can easily hack into our network and data systems to steal credit card information, social security numbers, etc.
In order to protect information collected by the Internet of Things, technology companies need to start building better-protected software, which is nearly impossible. Like I talked about in my last post, there is a tradeoff between private security and government surveillance. While private security is necessary for things like credit card numbers and social security, government surveillance can help protect from terrorist attacks, criminals, sex offenders, etc. Most (if not all) of the information we have on the internet or on personal devices are of no concern to the government. I am willing to give up some privacy in order to save a life. The Internet of Things opens up an opportunity for the government to catch more “bad guys.” Therefore, I am not worried about the government getting ahold of my information through the Internet of Things; I am worried about everyday criminals taking my information, which means it is up to tech companies to build robust systems.
I would fear a pervasively connected world where all of my information is available to the world. I think that the Internet of Things can be useful in certain situations, however. For example, a medical device that collects heart information and immediately sends the data for analysis could help save lives. But, is it really necessary to have a refrigerator that tells you if you need more butter? There are situations where we should use modern day technology to improve our lives or help prevent/cure illnesses. I don’t support a house the opens the blinds in the morning, turns on the shower, and toasts your pop tart based on your daily routine in the morning. Even simply beyond a security argument, the Internet of Things will slowly make humanity increasingly lazier, making it unnecessary for us to perform routine actions.