Attacks, Vulnerabilities, and Blockchain-Based Countermeasures in Internet of Things (IoT) Systems
Nayanika Shukla
HMR Institute of Technology and Management, India
Bharat Bhushan
School of Engineering and Technology,
Sharda University, India
Introduction
The Internet of Things (IoT) is a web that consists of physical objects, or “things,” that facilitate the exchange of information over the internet to create new' things, by using sensors that record data and provide a fixed network connection [1]. By "things,” we do not point to a particular object; instead, this is a broad term for calculating devices, automatic machines, objects, and other electronic devices. As the IoT has some anticipated advantages, innovation leaders have seen a rapid growlh in its usage. It has sufficient potential to achieve a great economic impact worldwide in the coming years. As a decentralized system, the IoT helps in the analysis, observation, and control of various procedures, w'hich revamps various activities and helps achieve better performance and efficiency [2]. The IoT’s latest techniques help in maintenance purposes, by examining recurring patterns and contributing to then- analysis, w'hich provides many benefits. Traditional procedures and services could be improved with the help of this accurate information. Though the IoT provides many advantages, there are also disadvantages related to it, such as the lack of privacy, an overdependence on technology, as well as the loss of jobs [3]. The cost of sensors, and other expenses, are also a major cause of worry.
A proper linkage between the IoT and blockchain could be made in order to avoid the aforementioned problems. As a decentralized, dispersed, enduring, and collective database ledger, blockchain helps to store all the transactions taking place and contains a hash that points to the previous block [4]. A complete history of all transactions is provided by the blockchain. The information-sharing component of the IoT could be enhanced by blockchain technology. Essential information can be shared safely by IoT devices, by using blockchain’s methods [5]. Blockchain technology can enable the processing of transactions and incorporating billion of connected devices, which is extremely important in tracking those devices [6]. Therefore, blockchain technology enables IoT industry manufacturers to facilitate notable savings [7]. Once disseminated, this technique would abolish any chance of failure and provide a pliable environment for the smooth functioning of devices. In order to make customer data more secure, blockchain technology significantly uses cryptographic algorithms [8]. Various sectors, such as health care, banking, industry, etc. are applying the IoT to gain various advantages [9]. The IoT could use blockchain technology to address security issues.
Our work brings an integrated approach to the applications of blockchain technology and its contribution in the operation of IoT devices. The major contribution of this work is an elaborated discussion of blockchain technology, its applications in IoT systems, and the challenges it poses. This work also presents in-depth analysis of the distribution, access, and growth of blockchain. The chapter demonstrates how' blockchain has evolved and provided a diverse range of processes to ensure privacy and the smooth retrieval of data. With the help of blockchain and the IoT, advanced technology could be introduced to the world, with elements such as smart homes and smart cities. The concept of smart health care and industrial systems, now considered “health care 4.0” and “industry 4.0,” respectively, has greatly benefited from the advent of blockchain technology [10,11]. Given the challenges faced by IoT devices using blockchain, including communication between devices, the quantity of storage needed, and cost, it is difficicult to integrate the two technologies properly [12].
The remainder of the chapter is organized as follows. Section 14.2 starts off with the history and background of blockchain technology. It highlights the fundamental components of blockchain, along with its types and associated security issues. Section 14.3 explores common security attacks on the IoT and how blockchain protects IoT devices from these attacks. Section 14.4 discusses the most useful applications of blockchain technology. Finally, Section 14.5 highlights the major challenges associated with blockchain technology, followed by a conclusion in Section 14.6.
