IoT--some call it 'privacy hell'.

• Position: TECHNOLOGY

The Internet of Things (IoT), which includes anything with a sensor, processor, and connectivity to the Internet, continues to expand rapidly --Accenture predicted last year that 69% of consumers will own an in-home IoT device by 2019, while Gartner forecasted that 25 billion devices will be in use by 2020 - and that worries privacy and security experts alike.

"There are more devices and more types of devices, so this just gives you more ways for people to hurt you," security expert Josh Corman recently told Fast Company's Lauren Zanolli. "What we've done is blindly assume that [adding software and connectivity] is always good. And we're making really horrible, horrible choices."

Medical devices are a major area of concern for Corman, who pointed out that hacker-researchers have proved that high-tech medical equipment can be manipulated to cause harm. Then there are connected cars, home security and automation systems, and "smart" public infrastructure such as utility grids and traffic control.

He also raised a red flag regarding the data being collected about individuals' movements. According to the article, information collected by personal tracking and activity devices has already been admitted into court in personal injury cases; some believe it will soon be used in divorce cases as well.

"I think what will happen is that there is going to be enough people spied upon by ex-girlfriends or boyfriends, or distrust their government, or get hurt from IoT devices, and we're gonna realize we did too much," Corman predicted.

In January the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) issued a report providing best practices businesses should follow to protect consumers' privacy and security when developing IoT devices:

* Build security into the devices from the...