Page 231 - Kaleidoscope Academic Conference Proceedings 2024

INVESTIGATING AGRICULTURAL IOT DEVICES AND SERVICES
FROM CYBERSECURITY PERSPECTIVES

2
1
3
1
2
Kosuke, Tanizaki ; Keisuke, Furumoto ; Kohei, Masumi ; Trong-Minh, Hoang ; Yoshiaki, Shiraishi ; Takeshi, Takahashi 2
1
Kobe University, Hyogo, Japan
2
National Institute of Information and Communications Technology, Tokyo, Japan
3
Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology, Hanoi, Vietnam
ABSTRACT is the first large-scale study on the security of agricultural IoT
devices.
The rise of smart farm has led to the increasing use of
In this paper, we first developed a list of 175 agricultural
devices with communication capabilities in the agricultural
IoT devices, followed by a taxonomy based on that list.
field. Although papers and security reports have warned
We created two Taxonomies on agricultural IoT devices and
about the necessity of security measures for IoT devices
agricultural systems and services (which include agricultural
used in the industrial field, there is little existing research
IoT devices within themselves) to provide a classification
that investigates the actual state of these measures. In
scheme for products in the agricultural field that are available
this paper, we first developed a list of 175 agricultural
on the market. Next, we conducted a large-scale survey
IoT devices, followed by a taxonomy based on that list.
of agricultural IoT devices (including systems and services
Next, using Shodan’s observation network, we conducted
that include agricultural IoT devices within themselves) that
a large-scale survey of agricultural IoT devices (including
are publicly available on the Internet by using Shodan’s
systems and services that include agricultural IoT devices
observation network [11] to investigate the actual security
within themselves) that are publicly available on the Internet
of agricultural IoT devices. Noteworthy, despite warnings
to investigate the actual security of agricultural IoT devices.
in many security reports, few agricultural IoT devices were
In addition, this study also examines security risks related to
targeted by cyberattacks. This indicates that it is more
agricultural IoT devices that may emerge in the future and
cost-effective for attackers to target general-purpose IoT
current standards that can be used as countermeasures.
devices and, only a few attackers are creating malware
specifically for agricultural IoT devices. In addition, this
Keywords - Cyber Security, Vulnerability, Agricultural IoT
study also examines security risks related to agricultural
Device, Smart Agriculture
IoT devices that may emerge in the future. We conducted
a survey using Shodan on the actual state of system
1. INTRODUCTION
security in industries adjacent to agriculture. We presented
The rise of smart agriculture has led to the increasing use of examples of systems whose management screens are publicly
devices with communication capabilities in the agricultural available on the Internet, similar to those of agricultural
field. In this paper, IoT devices used in agriculture are applications. In addition to potential security threats,
referred to as "agricultural IoT devices." By using agricultural we also examined current standards that can be used as
IoT devices to automate or remotely control tasks such as countermeasures. Finally, we provide recommendations for
temperature, humidity control, and watering, it is possible to new countermeasures needed to address future threats that
reduce the burden on farmers to a large extent. IoT devices may emerge in the agricultural sector. In this paper, device
are also actively being implemented in power plants and information and the Web GUI screen obtained through the
ships. With the spread of IoT devices into the industrial Shodan search are anonymized to comply with research ethics
field, security measures for IoT devices other than those regulations.
used at home are of utmost importance. However, although
the importance of security for connected IoT devices has 2. BACKGROUND
been recognized, the reality is that the majority of this
research still focuses on general-purpose IoT devices such 2.1 Smart farm
as cameras and routers. Furthermore, previous papers [1–4]
and security reports [5–10] have emphasized the necessity Smart farming is a new form of agriculture that aims to
of implementing security measures for IoT devices in the increase efficiency, improve quality, and reduce labor through
industrial sector. Still, a lack of literature thoroughly advanced technology [12]. It is attracting attention as an
investigates the actual situation of these security measures. effort to bring innovation to traditional farming methods and
Hence, this study fills the necessary research gap by focusing to realize sustainable agriculture. Smart farms utilize various
on the practical security challenges of connected IoT devices technologies, but at the heart of them is the IoT: IoT devices
in the agricultural sector. To the best of our knowledge, this monitor and control multiple information inside and outside

978-92-61-39091-4/CFP2268P @ITU 2024 – 187 – Kaleidoscope