Overcoming Augmented Reality Network Security Risks
A recent article on the Information Age website spells out the network risks associated with Augmented Reality in the enterprise. Now that mobile devices have the processing power and connectivity to fully support Augmented Reality, the flip side of this is the potential privacy risks of having always—on, geo-located devices.
This article points out the security risks to organisations that have under-prepared for the impact AR will have on networks as more AR apps are introduced. Repair and maintenance are key uses of AR technology: replicate this across a number of employees using devices or wearables and the traffic that crosses an organisation’s network could potentially reveal IP addresses, location and type of device including user permissions. Intercepted by a hacker, this could be dangerous, potentially combining location data with other personal information to build detailed targeted user behaviour profiles.
The article examines the type of network traffic generated by an AR app and draws on research from Ixia, who recently analysed communications between the Pokémon Go app and the Niantic servers.
Snooping potential and data manipulation could be possible if the app’s security is vulnerable, particularly as AR is personalised to the user’s situation. Malware issues are discussed: key loggers, remote access Trojan or an agent that downloads further malware to the network via the device.
The article goes on to explain how organisations can implement protective measures in their AR risk mitigation strategy, namely:
1. Mobile device management (MDM) solution
2. Employee training and awareness to guard against human error and carelessness
3. Visibility of app traffic on your network
A variety of tools and solutions are available to offer network visibility, with intelligent filtering and distribution, ensuring end-to-end visibility.