The Convergence of Artificial Intelligence and Internet of Things Security: Shaping the Future of Secure Connected Systems

Dear Colleagues,

The Internet of Things (IoTs) is rapidly changing our world, spanning every aspect of our lives, from homes and workplaces to cities and critical infrastructure, but the vast and ever-growing number of interconnected devices has also created a huge attack surface, making IoTs systems a lucrative target for cyberattacks. Therefore, the world has witnessed a hike in IoTs attacks, exposing the inadequacy and insufficiency of traditional security measures in addressing challenges posed by modern connected devises, i.e., IoTs space. These challenges include the following:

Heterogeneity and complexity: IoTs systems are made up of a wide range of devices from different vendors with different security capabilities. This heterogeneity makes it difficult to implement and manage security solutions throughout the system. 

Resource constraints: Many IoTs devices are resource-constrained, limiting the computing power and memory available for security solutions. Dynamic nature: IoTs systems are constantly evolving, with new devices being added and removed on a regular basis. This dynamism makes it difficult to keep security solutions up to date.

To address these challenges, there is a growing need for innovative security solutions that can protect IoTs systems effectively. Artificial intelligence (AI) is emerging as a promising technology with the potential to address the unique challenges of IoTs security. This Special Issue will focus on the convergence of AI in IoTs security. This Special Issue aims to solicit papers addressing the latest advances in AI-based IoTs security solutions. 

Significance and relevance to the journal: 
This Special Issue will explore the challenges and opportunities associated with using AI in IoTs security. This topic will be of interest to a wide range of researchers and practitioners working in the fields of IoTs security, AI, and cybersecurity. This Special Issue will contribute to the advancement of the state of the art in AI-based IoTs security and provide valuable insights for developing future secure IoTs systems.

Technical scope:
This Special Issue will consider papers that present original research on the use of AI in IoTs cybersecurity. Articles can be theoretical, experimental, or applied, and we also welcome survey and review papers. 
Papers addressing, but not limited to, the following topics are particularly encouraged: 

• Anomaly detection and intrusion prevention in connected objects;
• Threat intelligence and risk assessment in connected objects;
• Vulnerability assessment and penetration testing in connected objects;
• Secure data collection and transmission;
• Privacy-preserving machine learning;
• Adversarial machine learning;
• Blockchain-based security solutions;
• Explainable AI for cybersecurity;
• The social and ethical implications of AI in IoTs security;
• AI's role in identifying and preventing cyber threats in IoTs;
• AI/ML/DL for predicting and preparing for future IoTs security challenges;
• The ethical dimensions of AI in IoTs security;
• AI-enhanced encryption and communication security for our IoTs;
• Real-world case studies showcasing the real impact of AI in IoTs security;
• Human-in-the-loop AI systems for IoTs security operations;
• Emulating human decision-making and reasoning in IoTs threat assessment;
• Explainable AI and interpretability in IoTs security;
• Bias and fairness in AI systems used for IoTs cybersecurity;
• Trustworthiness and accountability of AI in IoTs cybersecurity.

Dr. Zia Ush Shamszaman
Dr. Shareeful Islam
Dr. Stefano Silvestri
Dr. Xiaokun Zhang

Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• IoTs security
• CPS security
• secure ML and secure AI
• trustworthy and safe AI
• adversarial learning
• CPS security
• privacy in IoTs and CPS
• secure connected systems
• data privacy
• data poisoning
• secure VR/AR