Securing the Future After PagerBombs: Lifecycle Protection of Smart Devices via Blockchain Intelligence

Abstract

The Lebanese wireless device explosion incident has drawn widespread attention, involving devices such as pagers, walkie-talkies, and other common devices [1]. This event has revealed and highlighted the security vulnerabilities in global supply chains from raw material manufacturing and distribution to the usage of devices and equipment, signaling the onset of a new wave of “supply chain warfare” [2]. Even worse, with the rapid proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and smart hardware, the fragility of global supply chains would become increasingly fatal and significant, since almost all devices of daily usage could be maliciously programmed and triggered as weapons of massive destruction. Given this, we need new thinking and new approaches for improving supply chain security [3]. With its decentralized, tamper-proof, and highly traceable characteristics, blockchain technology is considered an effective solution to address these security threats [4], [5]. How to secure the entire lifecycle of smart devices, from production and transportation to usage, through blockchain-enabled safety management and protection, has become a pressing issue that requires immediate attention.