IOT SECURITY RISKS: THE GROWING THREAT OF BOTNETS AND UNSECURED DEVICES
Ummer khan Asif Bangalore Ghouse khan · INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH IN COMPUTER APPLICATIONS AND INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY · 2018
The rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized various sectors, including healthcare, transportation, and smart homes.However, it has also introduced significant security vulnerabilities, with unsecured IoT devices becoming prime targets for cybercriminals.One of the most alarming threats is the emergence of botnets, which exploit poorly secured IoT devices to launch large-scale cyberattacks.The infamous 2016 Mirai botnet attack highlighted the devastating potential of compromised IoT devices, causing widespread disruptions to critical services and infrastructure.This paper examines the security risks associated with IoT ecosystems, focusing on common vulnerabilities such as weak authentication mechanisms, lack of encryption, and unpatched firmware.It explores how botnets, particularly in the context of Distributed Denial-of-Service (DDoS) attacks, have become powerful tools for cybercriminals to disrupt services, steal data, and compromise critical infrastructure.Additionally, this paper investigates the broader impact of botnets on industries reliant on IoT devices and the importance of safeguarding these devices from exploitation.Furthermore, the paper discusses potential mitigation strategies to enhance the security of IoT ecosystems.Key approaches include establishing and enforcing device security standards, improving network segmentation, and utilizing advanced technologies like IoT Security Risks: The Growing Threat of Botnets and Unsecured Devices