Technological innovations are an advantage for both the individual and the community, but they are not without pitfalls. The smarter our cities become, the more the risks to citizens’ security and privacy increase.
But what is a smart city? This term indicates those urban areas where the cutting-edge technology of the Internet of Things is used in all areas of city management. For example, public transport is managed and controlled digitally. Wi-Fi networks are available to citizens, traffic lights regulate themselves according to traffic, etc. Obviously, all this brings considerable advantages, but there are also various dangers.
The biggest problem is security and privacy. To begin with, network infrastructures are produced by private companies, and most of them are operating from other countries. This means that the hardware is of foreign origin even if the network is managed at a national or local level. Since citizens’ data and habits are precious assets, it could be hypothesized that foreign powers could introduce spy systems to the network infrastructures installed.
But without disturbing international espionage, the simple fact of making a city smart and therefore using the internet for its management exposes citizens to the risk of cyber attacks aimed at the theft of personal data or the interruption of services by hackers. During the lockdown period for Covid-19, for example, several hospitals and entire national health systems were brought to their knees by ransomware attacks that prevented or significantly slowed down the provision of essential services.
The future of cities, between safety and innovation
Therefore, the design of a smart city must recognize the study and implementation of security measures designed to protect the local network and, therefore, all connected devices from the possibility of cyber attacks. City administrations, as well as national ones, must take responsibility for developing a secure and impenetrable city network. At the same time, citizens must be aware of the risks they may run and therefore be prepared to protect their personal data.
As regards what individual citizens can do, it is important to remember that they can only act on their own devices and on the use they make of them: To influence the choices of the administrations, it is necessary to contact the dedicated offices and support requests for greater transparency and protection that many expert associations advance when implementing new smart services.
How to protect yourself from cyber dangers, then?
However, you can use different solutions to protect your personal data independently. From strong and unique passwords to distrusting free Wi-Fi networks, there are many small tricks that, if used simultaneously, allow you to live a “smart” life in relative safety. However, one of the safest solutions is to use a VPN for Chrome or other browsers on all devices that have access to the internet.
VPNs are virtual private networks that act as an intermediary between the internet and your home network or the device from which you connect. These networks allow you to mask your IP address, thus hiding the origin of your data, and to use encrypted tunnels to send and receive data so that these are protected from possible theft.
However, a VPN is not by itself a guarantee of security; it is essential to choose the right VPN. A VPN must, in turn, be secure and controlled, guaranteeing its users’ privacy and allowing the internet’s use without limitations or drops in performance.
To conclude, smart cities are certainly a step forward for society, and in the coming years, more and more urban centers will face this transformation. However, it is important that the security issue does not take a back seat and that governments and local administrations work together to create a safer environment for everyone. In all this, even the individual citizen will have to do his part.
Also Read: 5 Cybersecurity Threats To Watch In 2020 And Beyond
