How to Fail in the Internet of Things

By Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman, Law Firm - Recode.net, Feb. 18, 2015 – 

Innovation is prized in the growing space of the Internet of Things (IoT). But an innovative product design is not enough, and potential pitfalls abound.

As demonstrated in a report published by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), privacy and security need to be at the forefront of developers' minds. Here are five lessons on what not to do when developing a connected product.

The Internet of Things is an expanding ecosystem of everyday objects that are embedded with technology, allowing them to connect, communicate and transfer information about users and their surroundings to each other.

IoT products boast beneficial effects such as increasing economic productivity and efficiency, encouraging robust innovation, and tailoring user experiences. However, by virtue of being connected to the Internet, IoT products also carry privacy and security risks. On Jan. 27, 2015, the Federal Trade Commission published a report focusing on privacy and security concerns for IoT devices sold to consumers.

Given the growing interest in how embedded computing advancements affect security and privacy issues, this Alert identifies what developers, investors and entrepreneurs should avoid when entering the IoT market.

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