Are IoT devices Trojan Horses?
A while ago I came across an interesting article about IoT devices:
Steve Feurer provides a good summary of the market forces limiting the security of IoT devices. As technology develops we can all help here by buying with security in mind, when selecting home thermostats as well as wireless sensors for plant equipment.
I really like the Trojan Horse analogy though. How different things could have been if the Trojans had taken precautions against the object their enemy left behind turning out to be a threat. They may have left it outside the city walls where it would have been seen as a symbol of strength, deterring other attackers. Perhaps built a wall around it preventing rivals from stealing it or the Greeks taking it back. With the gates locked at night their would-be assassins pose little threat.
The commercial pressures driving adoption of IoT technology are not going away. Fortunately for those of us in the process and manufacturing industries, we are used to considering failure modes and effects, and managing risk. If we can work safely with high voltages, corrosive chemicals or explosive gases, we must be able to manage the risk of using internet-connected devices.
So, if it helps, consider your IoT devices Trojan Horses, but don't miss out on the benefits they can bring and do ensure to mitigate the risk they represent.