NARROWBAND INTERNET OF THINGS SECURITY THREATS AND COUNTERMEASURES

Аннотация

Internet of Things technologies have become an integral part of business and public life. This technology can be seen in almost every major city in Russia. Many leading countries are at a relatively high level of mass implementation of Internet of Things technology. Many areas of activity of the country directly depend on the Internet of Things: "smart home", "smart city", digital agriculture, automation of production, etc. At the same time, it is necessary to take into account that the diversified use of technologies entails a special interest of attackers and an increase in security threats. In this regard, experts have a question of ensuring security. This article discusses the characteristics of Internet of Things devices, the main security threats of narrowband Internet of Things and recommendations for countermeasures. Keywords: Internet of Things, NB-IoT, cybersecurity, security threats, computer security The Internet of Things (IoT) is one of the biggest and fastest-growing inventions of the last decade, and the growth of this industry can be measured by the massive number of devices connected to the Internet of Things. In developed countries, devices connected to the Internet of Things have become a part of everyday life in many ways. By the end of 2019, the number of these devices connected to the IoT network exceeded 26.66 billion and continues to grow, with 127 new devices connecting to the Internet every second worldwide [1]. Выпуск журнала №-26 Часть–2_Май –2025 329 MODERN EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT What does this ever-increasing number of devices mean? The more devices connected to the IoT network, the more vulnerable it becomes to various security threats and risks. Many of the IoT devices connected to the Internet process data of an extremely sensitive nature, which should only be accessed by authorized personnel. These applications are computer programs that, most of the time, rely on real-time conditions to ensure that tasks are completed successfully. One of the reasons for vulnerability to security risks is that manufacturers of devices connected to IoT networks do not consider privacy or security of the device and data as a priority. Therefore, many users, without knowing it, still buy these devices and connect them to the IoT network, increasing the risk of security breaches, etc. [2]. Characteristics of IoT Devices We are going to discuss some characteristics of IoT devices that pose a high security risk. By identifying the characteristics that lead to the problem, one can find a solution to the problem. However, even a basic definition of the Internet of Things can give an understanding of what is the root cause of security threats. The Internet of Things is a collection of billions of devices around the world connected to each other via the Internet. Not only that, these IoT devices are also connected to the cloud through the World Wide Web to exchange data with other IoT devices and thus become vulnerable to hackers around the world. Some of the key characteristics of IoT devices include:  Real-time data collection to perform their tasks,  Always using LPWAN cellular network, which is also called Narrowband IoT and LTE-M,  Measuring physical parameters and the ability to perform physical actions,  Always connected to the cloud,  Ability to make decisions independently based on available data [3]. Security Threats of Narrowband IoT The characteristics discussed above give us an idea of the challenges that the narrowband IoT faces. Now, we are going to discuss these many challenges and the Выпуск журнала №-26 Часть–2_Май –2025 330 MODERN EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT reason why many IoT devices face problems. One of the biggest misunderstandings in the market related to IoT security is that the very concept of security means only enhancing the security of IoT devices, while much more is required [4]. When we say “Internet of Things”, we mean the complete system, not just the devices in daily use. This system includes the device itself, the cloud, the mobile application that is used to manage the device, the network interface to which the device is connected, and the software; besides this, the operation of the system, the use of encryption, authentication, and finally the physical security of both the device and all other physical components. Thus, along with the IoT device, all these system components are equally vulnerable to the threats and security issues that we are going to discuss [5]. Let's now delve into these issues one by one. As the English phrase goes, “A chain is only as strong as its weakest link.” The case of IoT systems is very similar. No matter how good the overall security is, if you use a device with poor security, the entire system can be easily hacked [5]. The same goes for application security. Poorly secured applications and end devices make systems vulnerable to cyber attacks. One of the main reasons is that most of the device manufacturers are the same man