An Investigation of the Challenges of Securing the Increasing Internet of Things (IoT) Ecosystem in the UK: A Case Study on Smart Cities and Connected Homes

The swift growth of IoT devices in smart cities and connected homes has transformed our lifestyle and interaction with our surroundings. Nevertheless, this remarkable expansion has also resulted in notable security difficulties that must be dealt with. This project seeks to explore the security weaknesses and dangers linked to the IoT environment in the UK, with a specific focus on smart cities and connected homes. The study will utilize the Cooja network simulator and the Contiki operating system for experimentation. Cooja offers a versatile and expandable platform for simulating extensive IoT networks, allowing for the replication of various IoT devices and their communication. Contiki OS, created for IoT devices with limited resources, will be utilized to create and implement IoT applications in a simulated environment. The plan involves the use of VirtualBox, a robust virtualisation software, to operate within a virtual machine setting. VirtualBox will make it easier for the Cooja simulator and the Contiki OS to work together smoothly, allowing for a controlled and isolated setting for experiments and analysis. The effectiveness of current security measures is assessed by mimicking real-world IoT setups, and new strategies for detecting and stopping blackhole attacks are put forward in the study. The study is striving to uncover weaknesses in existing IoT security methods and create successful defences against blackhole attacks by conducting thorough simulations and empirical analysis. The results of this study will have important consequences for improving the security and strength of IoT environments, which will help protect vital infrastructure, ensure user confidentiality, and build trust in the use of smart city and connected home technologies in the UK. The outcomes of this study will help enhance comprehension of IoT security issues and offer important perspectives for various stakeholders, such as policy makers, industry experts, and researchers, in creating strong and secure IoT systems for smart cities and connected homes in the UK.