IOT: Convenience vs. Security

Not long ago, IBM introduced their “Smarter Planet” initiative, and not long since, this has had significant impact on consumers. Marketing and advertising campaigns  started to appear in markets across the globe provoking thought and innovation. IBM has been leading the way with a host of other innovators to help transform the way in which businesses operate; Innovation has made terms such as Ondemand, sensors IoT common place, paving the way for products and services   to enter into the most safe-guarded sanctuaries of society…our homes. The question is however, at what point does this begin to infringe on consumer privacy and begin to sacrifice security for convenience?

As the devices consumer’s operate and own increases so will the threats against identity and vulnerabilities into consumer privacy. From SmartPhones, Wearables like FitBit & iWatch to SmartCars and SmartHomes; consumers are being surrounded by an ever increasing cognitive and analyzed world that businesses are thriving on.  The challenge that we each face however is that legislation is far behind the development of these SmartDevices and as such in many ways consumers are vulnerable until such legislation is passed to regulate and protect the privacy & privileges & freedom that each citizen of the USA merits the right to have (Bracy, 2015). We’ve seen government and public safety agencies challenge these rights from forcing Google and Apple to compromise security for access to many consumer’s devices. Now these devices are moving into the very sanctuary that is most private…the home. 

Samsung is one of a long line of players that is endeavoring plays into the SmartHome industry of IOT. Products already exist like SmartLightBulbs, SmartLockingSystems, and even SmartAppliances like the refrigerator (Business Insider Inc., 2017). There have already been incidents of guests being locked in their hotel rooms, unable to exit until ransoms were paid for their release all through the wonderful ideology of IOT and a malicious hacker (Ghoshal, 2017). It isn’t far away now before home consumers who rely entirely too much on “automation” and “convenience” may find their security compromised. Where do you stand in the conversation of convenience vs.security?