The internet of things

To put it in a more simpler matter, The internet of things is basically connecting any device with an off and on switch to the internet and/or to each other. It is the network of ‘things’ embedded with software, electronics and network connectivity which allows objects to collect data. ATMs were some of the first Internet Of Things objects back in 1974 and back in 2008, there were more objects connected to the internet than there were people and moreover, in the future, it will allow for more and more objects to be connected such as 250,000 vehicles.

The future is already here. It is a scary thought to think that one day, maybe within the next 10 years with always changing technologies, everything will be connected to the internet. One great innovative matter to focus on in relation to the internet of things, is Google’s smart thermostat maker, Nest Labs. Google’s latest smart-home product is a cheaper smart thermostat that anyone can install themselves without the need for a boiler engineer. The Nest Thermostat E is a two-part system consisting of a battery-powered heating controller called the Heat Link E, which replaces an existing wired thermostat or heating controller, and a smart thermostat that can be placed somewhere else in your home. This thermostat is a great example of how our future is shifting to a more connected world of technological advancement.

This YouTube clips displays how Nest is different from programmable thermostats; how it saves energy and learns your schedule.

The dark side: hackers, botnets and cyberwar

Edward Snowden is a notorious name when it comes to hacking as he was charged by the US Government with theft of government property. He leaked to the media details of extensive internet and phone surveillance by American intelligence. The scandal broke in early June 2013 when the Guardian newspaper reported that the US National Security Agency (NSA) was collecting the telephone records of tens of millions of Americans. This case showed that not only can hackers can withhold your private information, but so can governments.

With the internet being the number one source for information, it is a hackers playground as the internet is filled with threats to online security. The amount of information that’s online, can be a danger for anyone so we need to be careful of what we have online. Botnets are the workhorses of the Internet. They’re connected computers performing a number of repetitive tasks to keep websites going. The bad thing about this though, is that they can gain access to your computer/laptop through coding which can end in your software being hacked (basically in a nut shell, adding your computer to their web).

Once the botnet’s owner is in control of your computer, they usually use your machine to carry out other nefarious tasks. Common tasks executed by botnets include:

• Using your machine’s power to assist in distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks to shut down websites.
• Emailing spam out to millions of Internet users.
• Generating fake Internet traffic on a third-party website for financial gain.
• Replacing banner ads in your web browser specifically targeted at you

SO WE NEED TO BE SUSPICIOUS AND CAREFUL OF WHAT THE WORLD WIDE WEB IS  CAPABLE OF.

*When you realise you’re getting sent to jail for theft of government property*