OPPORTUNITIES AND CHALLENGES OF THE INTERNET OF THINGS RELATED TO CONSUMER

Nowadays, we have connected devices that meet our daily needs, "smart objects" that monitor our homes, cars, work environment and physical activity. These devices have gained crucial importance in our life. Hereby, we are entering into a new era, one in which the Internet of Thing (IoT) will replace the traditional Internet that we know today. Although IoT is expected to have a massive impact on individuals, it is still in its early days and many challenges lie ahead. As consumers and users of connected smart devices, we focus to such an extent on the incredible functionality of IoT that we often forget to think about the possible implications for our private life and security. Many questions arise about the vulnerability of these devices, which are often installed outside of a traditional IT structure, without integrated security attributes. Thus, expected benefits must take into account the challenges especially related to privacy and security that IoT may pose. Data loss, malware, unauthorized access to personal data, intrusive use or illegal surveillance are risks that need to be addressed. Beyond compliance with legal and technical norms, there are important implications that IoT has on society, in general, and on consumer, in particular. This paper is motivated by the above considerations, providing insight into challenges and opportunities of IoT related to consumer. Through reviewing the literature, the article firstly clarifies the significance of this concept and then discusses the applications of IoT related to individual consumer, highlighting those processes and activities that can be dramatically changed by IoT and the wide range of challenges faced by these networks.