Smart Cities

Smart Cities

Smart cities are vulnerable to cyber-attacks in many ways. Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) are some of the most dangerous. These threats rely on several different attacks working in unison to disrupt urban services, often using malware and “zero-day” vulnerabilities A well-designed network using iTF platform and a combination of SecureOT, SecureCAM and SecureIT can thwart all attempts to sabotage the Smart City Infrastructure. A few of the vulnerabilities addressed are:

  • Asset, data, and identity theft– Smart city infrastructure is particularly vulnerable to this, and hackers have been known to extract personal data from public infrastructure.

  • Hijacking devices– Using security vulnerabilities, attackers can take control of device(s). Traffic lights and road signals are particularly vulnerable. Further cameras may be compromised to have live coordinated attack on the city or critical establishments.
  • Man-In-The-Middle attacks– A hacker can interrupt communication between two devices and pose as the sender, sending false information to cause trouble. For example, a hacker may gain access to a mobility platform and report public transport delays, which could lead to more people taking a car to work, causing an influx in traffic that brings a city to a standstill.

  • Distributed Denial of Service– DDoS attacks are simple. With real-life users unable to access a service, city systems will fail to support their citizens.

  • Ransomware– Hackers, or hacktivists, use these to compromise a process or release confidential data unless certain demands are met or ransom is paid.

  • Physical disruption– As many systems rely on intricate processes and feedback from networks of sensors, a compromise of such sensor may lead to physical disruption causing a chain-reaction of damage.