More smart devices are coming on the market with every year, which open individuals up to a new world of useful applications and services. While many of these devices may offer greater convenience and make it easier to achieve our goals, the growing Internet of Things (IoT) is also going to increase our risk exposure and provide new opportunities for criminals.
When we talk about the Internet of Things, we mostly focus on the benefits and how well these devices can serve consumers. With modern mobile app development making it easier to sync things across devices, we are only just beginning to see the convenience the IoT can provide.
In some cases, there might be some discussion of privacy concerns. That said, millions of consumers are adopting these technologies each year. However, there is not much of a conversation concerning new cybersecurity practices or the ways in which IoT technology will change the field of digital forensics.
Investigations in the Age of IoT Tech
Digital forensics is a field that specializes in finding, analyzing, and preserving digital evidence for criminal investigations and prosecutions. It is a fairly robust discipline when it comes to things like studying the data on a computer or obtaining information from a service provider, but the expansion of IoT technology is going to add new complications to this field.
The most significant issue with crimes that may involve devices that operate on the Internet of Things is that it brings together so many different technologies. Depending on the device or application, you could be looking at technologies involving mobile communications, Wi-Fi networks, cloud computing, RFID sensors, and more. When an investigation involves an IoT device, police may need experts that can work with many of these aforementioned technologies.
A New Approach for a New Technology
With IoT forensics, there could be several different sources of evidence. Similar to the current state of digital forensics, information from the device itself could be valuable. Investigators would also look into systems that allow the device to communicate with the rest of the world. This would include local networks, mobile networks, ISPs, and more.
Beyond that, investigators will also need to obtain evidence from the external systems that communicate with the IoT device. This could include social media sites, cloud computing resources, and other similar systems. Many IoT devices do not store information. Instead, they send it to a service that processes it and uses it to provide the desired result. For this reason, off-site data will be extremely valuable when investigating a crime that involves smart technology and IoT devices.
Digital forensics experts are already developing protocols for investigating IoT devices. However, the Internet of Things is growing quickly and the technology is changing rapidly. To protect your business or personal data, you will need to develop new cybersecurity protocols that can keep you protected in a world where everything is more connected than ever.