Researchers from the University of Bradford have issued a warning over the potential safety dangers of smart technology found in people’s homes.
But such technology, which includes smart speakers, smart plugs, smart kitchen appliances and video doorbells, can be vulnerable to cyber attacks and cause damage, such as fire, in people’s homes.
Dr Sohag Kabir, Associate Professor at the University of Bradford’s School of Computer Science, Artificial Intelligence and Electronics, and his team are researching how to make people’s digital world more safe and secure.
Kabir said: “You can control everything in your smart home from your mobile phone through different apps.
“This is the emerging world of the internet of things. We are trying to make these things [smart technology] safer.
“Companies of smart technology focus on the function and not what could go wrong. Safety and security take a backseat.”
In spite of the positive side of smart technology, Dr Kabir and his team warn of potential issues over security, reliability and safety.
Hardware, software and communication failures can occur randomly, posing serious risks to users. For instance, smart homes could experience fire caused by overheating if thermostats, controlled via smart devices, malfunction.
Such devices found in the home are vulnerable to cyber attacks due to their limited processing capabilities, making them ‘low hanging fruits and easy targets’ for hackers.
In the healthcare industry, cyber attacks can directly affect patient safety, while failed power supplies can potentially endanger people’s lives.
Other problems with smart technology include power outage, conflicts between co-located applications from different vendors, servers going down or network connectivity issues.
As a result, the University of Bradford has teamed up with the Universities of Sheffield and North Texas and National University of Singapore on its research into IoT and artificial intelligence (AI).
PhD students in Bradford’s School of Computer Science, AI, and Electronics are focusing on leveraging computational intelligence, including AI, to ensure the safety and security of IoT-based systems, or, smart technology.
Dr Kabir said continued research and development efforts are needed to make resilient and energy-efficient IoT devices with extended battery life.
Consumers need to be educated about the benefits, risks and responsible use of IoT technologies.
Dr Kabir added the benefits and value of smart technology far outweighs the risks, but everyone needs to approach them with caution.
He has called for regulatory bodies, researchers and industries to work together to overcome the limitations and meet the challenges of such technology.
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