In the fictional world of the video game Watch Dogs, you can play a hacktivist who takes over the central operating system of a futuristic, hyper-connected Chicago. With control over the city’s security system, you can spy on residents using surveillance cameras, intercept phone calls, and cripple the city’s critical infrastructure, unleashing a vicious cyberattack that brings the Windy City to its knees.
Smart Cities Are Going to Be a Security Nightmare
Advancements in artificial intelligence and Internet of Things (IoT) connected devices have made it possible for cities to increase efficiencies across multiple services like public safety, transportation, water management, and even healthcare. But while investment in smart technology has gone up, many of these innovations are deployed without robust testing, and cybersecurity is often neglected, leaving city infrastructure vulnerable to attack. Cybercriminals can shut down multiple city services from a single entry point, threatening public health and safety. With the global IoT footprint expected to surpass 50 billion connected devices by 2020, urban communities will need to strengthen existing cybersecurity protocols and disaster recovery methods to counter hackers searching for opportunities to wreak havoc.