What is Security in the Digital Age?

By Birgit Baustädter With several billion devices forecast to be connected by 2020, security is increasingly becoming a topic of public debate and attracting more and more attention in research circles. . "Play my afternoon playlist!" It's a harmless request you might often use in the familiar and increasingly networked surroundings of your own four walls. Living spaces are now kitted out with more and more smart devices connected to the internet, and the automotive sector, the health service, banks and industry are likewise becoming increasingly networked. Too often, we know little about who sees and uses the data that we inevitably generate. But we put our faith in them. We believe that devices are protected against disruption and unauthorised access, and that our data are only seen by people who have the necessary authorisation.