Cyber Security Challenges in the Internet of Things (IoT)

The Internet of Things (IoT) represents a transformative paradigm in which billions of interconnected devices exchange data seamlessly to enhance automation, efficiency, and decision-making. However, this pervasive interconnectivity has expanded the cyber threat landscape, making IoT systems increasingly vulnerable to security breaches, data theft, and system manipulation. This paper critically examines the key cybersecurity challenges in IoT, such as device heterogeneity, lack of standardized protocols, resource constraints, and weak authentication mechanisms. It also reviews current countermeasures and security frameworks while highlighting areas requiring further research. This paper underscores the importance of having an integrated, dynamic, and AI-assisted security solution that can be used to protect IoT ecosystems