Certified Ethical Hacker (CEH) Study Guide

Chapter 8. Mobile Communications and the Internet of Things

I’m certain you’ve seen the Matrix series of movies. In short, the movies postulate that we’re not actually alive, breathing, and interacting with each other—we’re actually all just jacked into a huge computer program that’s simulating everything we perceive as real. There’s a big temptation here for me to launch into perception versus reality, dimensional variations, and destiny versus free will, but this is a tech book, not a philosophy class, so I’ll avoid it. No, what I want to talk about here is the real-life Matrix you may not even be aware you’re plugging into—the Internet of Things (IoT) and Internet Everywhere.

I looked for a single definition of the Internet of Things, but none of the definitions I found adequately fit the bill for me, so I’ve decided to take a different tack. No matter where you are, glance around for a second and pick out the things you think are or should be on your network. I’m sure you can identify some objects pretty quickly. Just a couple of years back you’d point out your cell phone and your PC. Today you may even point out other electronic devices that are obvious—your TV, your refrigerator, and maybe even your microwave. Also, there’s your car. But take a closer look. Expand your imagination for a second.

Your toothbrush might have something to say about your health. Your pantry sure has lots to say about what you need to buy—not to mention that forgotten potato rotting on the floor ...