Chapter 4 - Facilitators and relevant factors

4.4 The future is already here

4.4.2 Internet of Everything - Future threats and developments

While a killer app driving the main-stream adoption of the IoE may not be there yet [185], we can expect to see the concept rapidly expanding and being adopted, driven by market pressures, availability and broader acceptance.

Crucial aspects of the IoE are identity, identification, security, privacy and trust [186]. For instance, facial and speech recognition features in smart devices will become more wide-spread and pose greater risks in terms of privacy and security, and so will wearable technology that can collect data [187]. As mentioned under the section on Big Data, as more data is captured, aggregated and cross-referenced, it will become harder to protect privacy.

With more objects being connected to the Internet and the creation of new types of critical infrastructure, we can expect to see (more) targeted attacks on existing and emerging infrastructures, including new forms of blackmailing and extortion schemes (e.g. ransomware for smart cars or smart homes), data theft, physical injury and possible death [188], and new types of botnets.

As more (personal) data is being stored in the cloud, we can expect to see more attacks on cloud services with the goal to disrupt services for economic or political motives, to steal/access data – including ransomware - or to use the infrastructure for malicious purposes [189].