Communications of the ACM
The Risks of Marrying 'Smart' Technology With 'Dumb' Machines
Before the Internet of Things becomes a pervasive reality, technology experts and public safety professionals are airing their concerns about cyber-physical security.
Credit: Alicia Tatone
As the cost and size of digital sensors shrinks and the ability to transmit data grows, an increasing number of physical objects are getting linked through software.
However, before the Internet of Things becomes a pervasive reality, technology experts and public safety professionals are worrying over the intersection of virtual and real in what they call cyber-physical security.
The main concern is that engineers are putting mechanical systems under the command of computers and algorithms without fully understanding the consequences.
Potential problems could include confusion about how controls work, software bugs that result in physical accidents, or cyberattacks on infrastructure like power stations or chemical plants.
While hackers can attack both new and retrofitted digital equipment, systems with network links added years later are more difficult to protect.
From The Wall Street Journal
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Abstracts Copyright © 2019 SmithBucklin, Washington, DC, USA
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