In this issue of “Lexing Insights,” the members of the network focus on the “Security Issues with IoT Products,” which was one of the topics discussed during the last annual conference of the Lexing international network that was held in Costa Rica last June.
Internet of Things, Cybersecurity and Personal Data
An increasing number of devices are connected via Internet, Bluetooth or RFID: watches, TVs, CCTVs, clothes, toys, light bulbs, fitness trackers, virtual assistants and even toothbrushes…. At the same time, cyberattacks are on the rise, and our connected societies are more vulnerable to cyber threats.
Because they collect and generate a large amount of data that can be stored on the Internet, the connected devices forming the “Internet of Things” (IoT) are a threat to personal data and privacy. Security breaches-— whether accidental or malicious — are real. The security risks posed by IoT are expected to increase: according to IDATE DigiWorld, there will be 35 billion connected devices worldwide by 2030.
Issues and Perspectives
No ICT product or service, and therefore no connected device, is wholly cyber-secure. Moreover, cybersecurity is not only an issue related to technology, but one where human behaviour is equally important.
In the era of the General Data Protection Regulation and the Cybersecurity Act, citizens, organisations and businesses are strongly encouraged by the legislator to adopt good ‘cyber-hygiene’ practices, namely, simple, routine measures that, where implemented and carried out regularly enhance the security of connected devices and mitigate the risks.
As Frédéric Forster, vice-president of the network, points out “complying with security requirements is essential. The security of the physical and logical access to these devices must be ensured insofar as if these devices are not (or not sufficiently) secure, they can contaminate the entire technical ecosystem to which they are connected.”
In this issue of “Lexing Insights,” the Lexing® network members provide a snapshot of the current state of play worldwide:
- What are the threats posed by connected devices?
- What can (or should) manufacturers do to prevent, manage and correct security breaches?
- What measures are being taken in various countries around the world to secure the IoT, build consumer trust and develop good practices?
The following countries have contributed to this issue: Belgium, France, Germany, Greece, South Africa.
Lexing International Newsletter “Lexing Insights” No. 22 July 2019