Doesn't creating a software that lets the user control all the functionality of their home sound fascinating to you? But is creating one actually pleasant? No. There are many complications in creating a smart home app which is been discussed in this presentation with their solutions.

1. 6 Insane Challenges of
Smart Home App
Development & How To
Solve Them

2. Introduction
During the summer, my team and I were working on this
Internet of Things smart home automation project and
boy…
It all seems nice and easy to let your user unlock their
doors from anywhere or adjust the lighting to set the
mood up.
But a lot of expertise goes into developing a software
which is capable of letting your user have a control over
their home.

3. It sounds a lot fascinating, like living in a house with utmost
comfort.
But TBH, a certain technical experience and smartness are
needed to build the complete app and software
integration.
Well, thanks to the internet of things and its limitless
possibilities that we were able to build the app project.
Interested in knowing how we overcame the challenges
and developed a masterpiece?
Keep reading folks.

4. Before We Move Any Further, Let
Us Understand What Internet Of
Things Smart Home Is…

5. It is always better to have a good understanding of the
technology before starting any project.
For us, we started documenting how the technology works,
who are the target users and most importantly- issues
with current products.
To start with the simplest definition of IoT,
IoT, or Internet of Things is a network of connected
physical things which can be accessed through the
internet.

6. When we talk about smart home app system, it involves
controlling the smart objects (things) at your home.
It might include lights, electric appliances, CCTVs, ACs,
door locks, fire alarm and the list is endless.
So basically, the smart devices are connected to a
specified cloud network.
Different brands have their own services including,
Amazon, Google, LG etc.

7. How Amazon’s Alexa Does It?

8. Ever thought about how Alexa does whatever told?
Okay not always duh!
Whenever you change the device setting, it sends a
message to the respective controller smart thing and
make the changes.

9. Cloud!
The devices connected with Alexa can be controlled by a
device cloud.
As the controller receives signal, it controls the device as
told.
It will turn on the light or make your geyser ready right
before you wake up etc.

10. But, everything is not always that nice.
Let’s talk about the problems that you
might face…

11. Developing smart home automation app software come
with its own security concerns and challenges.
Think about the information gathered by your favorite
smart devices, for example, a smart thermostat.
However promising the future looks, IoT have some of its
‘risk’ factors.

12. The Smart Thermostat...
...can easily tell anyone about:
● When you’re away from your home
● At times when you’re usually at your place
● Probably when you’re on your vacation
● Which of your rooms is most used and unused
If information like this goes unbarred into the wrong hands,
just think of the end results!

13. So, it is evident that IoT is significantly increasing some
inevitable security risks for both consumers and
businesses.
Each and every device which connects and
communicates with you through internet is unbarred for
attackers.
Without further ado, let’s go straight into the challenges
and security threats.

14. Multiple Devices And Multiple
Apps- A Big No No
1

15. What if a user has two different brands of smart device for
his home? Like Alexa and Nest?
He has to download bunch of different apps to control the
device to make the communication.
The controller for Alexa app will not receive the directive
sent by Nest, which is quite obvious.
This in return increases the hassles of users as it gives a
bad user experience.
Each time you try to control a device, you have to open a
new app!

16. To solve this, we brought APIs in the scene.
Application Programming interfaces or API are the codes
that allow different software components to literally
‘talk’ with each other.
Different companies have their own APIs.
And we can literally build third-party service to make the
devices from different brand interact with app.
Thus we made a single app for the users to take control of
all their smart devices.

17. How The Complex IoT Architecture
Magnifies Cyber Risks?
2

18. IoT creates a bigger network of devices which adds to the
associated risks.
In simple terms, there are more than three billion mobile
users globally and almost eight billion IoT devices.
So you can imagine the enormity of the network which
can be compromised or get hacked.
When it comes to smart homes, imagine the gravity of
the threat.

19. For instance…
A user connecting his smart light with his app is giving
away the information of his
● presence at home,
● when he leaves,
● when he reaches etc.
He is exposing himself to an unintended compromise.

20. Not only just a compromise…
A potential hacker can not only access to his personal
information but can also sneak into the home network and
access countless information!
So while we develop the smart home automation app, we
take extra precautions- making sure the controller, the
device data and the cloud is unhackable.

21. A Lot Of Complex Vulnerabilities
With Internet of Things Smart Home
App
3

22. It was not very long ago when the news of spying a two
year old baby using web-connected baby monitor broke
out.
This incident is enough eye-opening about the amount of
risk IoT comes with.
It can compromise the security level for both consumers
and enterprises alike.

23. For instance…
Think of a large scale home security surveillance.
Once the attackers get hold of the device, the results can
be devastating!
He could alter data and can make way for his entrance.
So, there is still some ambiguity in understanding the
vulnerabilities and the seriousness of the threat.

24. For every IoT project…
Specially smart home automation app, it is imperative to
design your project keeping a security model in mind.
And never underestimate the risks that come with IoT
devices.

25. Some Of The Major Legal Risks
Associated With IoT(for all industry)
4

26. Internet of Things definitely has more hazards than just
technological risks.
IoT is known to affect a lot of legal underpinnings like
data protection, product liability, data sovereignty etc.
Since, a lot of data is involved it becomes difficult to
determine which laws can be applied in case of dispute.

27. For example...
If a driverless car gets into an accident, who is liable one?
The manufacturer or the owner or the passenger riding
the car?
This is one of the major risks of any IoT project which can
draw a conclusion only after lengthy court proceedings.
Think about the level of complexity when it comes to
enterprise level IoT projects!

28. The Riskiest Cybersecurity Threat-
Buffer Overflow
5

29. What is buffer overflow?
As per Tech Target, it is a situation when a
program/process attempts to write more data to a fixed
block of buffer or memory that the buffer is supposed to
hold.

30. Buffer overflows are one of the major targets of hackers
who aim to exploit any IoT system.
It is caused when data overruns buffer’s boundary and
hence overwrites the previous memory locations.
This results in corrupting the important stored data.
A lot of confidential information is on the stake.
Hackers can easily take over the control of IoT devices.

31. We took charge...
And made sure that no such loose ends with Internet of
Things smart home app.
Whether it was choosing the right architecture or the API
integrations, our team was ready for the challenge.

32. One Of The Most Common Attacks-
Denial Of Service Attacks
6

33. Some of the most crucial effects of DDoS we noticed were:
● Electromagnetic jamming that prevents your RFID tag
to communicate with readers- that prevents
information exchange.
● The attack on a wired or wireless network by sending a
huge amount of traffic to certain network making the
server inefficient to respond fast.
So, a lot went into finalizing the flow of the app and
customize it according to the user demand.
And overcome all of the above-mentioned challenges.

34. Ready To Develop Your Smart
Home App?
6

35. So you see, IoT is expected to grow exponentially, it is still in
its infancy.
Any individual associated with IoT projects should consider
these risks before everything.
It is always better to work with experts who have got
enough experience in IoT.

36. Innofied Solution Pvt. Ltd.
Visit our website
www.innofied.com
Global Offices
India, US, Sydney,
Netherlands
Phone
+1-866-941-5117
Email
business@innofied.com
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