Keith Martin, F-Secure: “Without Cyber Security A Smart City Cannot Exist”

Today, cyber security is the paramount security necessity the world requires, where everyone is constantly being watched.

Every device used is under the risk of cyber attack or cybercrime. Even though, our work stands still without our smartphones, laptops, IT infrastructures and other IOT devices.

To be able to protect ourselves we need to be aware of cyber threats and use the true potential of our cyber security solution; with an enhancement in them over time.

To apprehend the cyber security essence for IoT, Smart cities, Fintech and digital payments, we had a discussion with Keith Martin, F-Secure Head Asia Pacific and Japan for Corporate Business. And here is what he had to say -

IoT Security A Crucial Factor

The Internet of Things (IoT) represents a considerable threat to consumers, due to inadequate regulations regarding its security and use. In many cases, the adoption of the technology is being driven by businesses eager to gain valuable data from citizens, with little concern for their privacy or the protection of that data.

Another danger from this explosion of poorly protected connected devices is the potential for internet instability. Already, hacking groups have proved themselves adept at finding flaws in certain devices and turning them into botnets. This was the case with the Mirai botnet discovered in 2016, which used IoT devices like webcams and CCTV cameras to carry out attacks on a number of internet-based businesses.

There is no single remedy to improve the situation. Rather, there needs to be a three-pronged approach. Consumers need to be educated on the risks of IoT devices and the home IoT security products available to mitigate the issue of poor security features, while governments should be addressing the quality of technology being put in people’s hands and homes. At the same time, product manufacturers must also be regulated to ensure that products which come to market are not lacking in security features or privacy measures.

Basic Cyber Security Knowledge to Access the Social Networking Websites Safely

The first step is to make sure to use the two-factor authentication (2FA) feature offered by the service. Without this, your password can be guessed by a hacker. They will do this by looking at the previous passwords you have used and which have been leaked online. The attacker will then try to brute force into the account using a previous password you used for other services, combining it with other keywords and mutations you might have chosen.

‘Password’ is actually the wrong word – it should be ‘passphrase’. Remember that a longer passphrase is harder to crack. Using a password manager will allow you to create unique, long passphrases for each account without having to remember them all. Even with these processes in place, we on your guard for phishing attempts and don’t click on links in emails sent by the service you subscribe to. Instead, log onto the service yourself and look for the information there.

Strong Measures to Be Taken With the Growing Network of Fintech and Digital Payments In India

India’s NPCI (National Payments Corporation of India) has put safeguards in place to secure its digital payments online. However, as there are merits of growing digital payments in India there are technological limitations as well.

Indian smartphones are at present being used extensively for making digital payments via e-wallets and banking applications. Such smartphone-based applications, nevertheless, are not backed with hardware-level security. So, this leaves vulnerability within the mobile endpoint that can put the user data integrity at risk.

Apart from this, the global cyber attackers continuously evolve their TTP (Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures), creating a need for India to adopt a more proactive approach to protect its growing IT infrastructure.

Cyber Security Plays a Vital Role in Developing India's Smart Cities

Smart cities feature a range of digital devices and framework, including cloud systems, network cameras, and internet-connected sensors, that can be compromised by a cyber-attacker. This directly increases the network boundary that needs to be protected and vulnerabilities eliminated on the hardware and software-level before we unveil our smart cities to the masses.

Without cyber security, a smart city cannot exist, as a smart city is essentially a control system, and that implies it must be under control of the intended users, not a criminal organization or a hostile nation-state.

Further, in order to protect Nation's classified information and prevent data breaches in Indian defence, “Compartmentalization and segmentation of networks are the keys to preventing severe data breaches. Networks should not be flat. If officials bring in their devices to work, they should only be allowed to access a separate segment of the network. Mission critical data should be in further isolation and require multi-factor authentication”.

Contributions of F-Secure In Securing Their Customers Globally

For three decades, F-Secure has driven innovations in cyber security, defending tens of thousands of companies and millions of people. F-Secure’s security experts have participated in more European cybercrime scene investigations than any other company in the market, and its products are sold all over the world by over 200 broadband and mobile operators and thousands of resellers.