Question about "Arduino: Blynk into the Internet of Things!" class

Electronics
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I received a PM question about using the Blynk project. After responding, I decided to post my response here. Additional thoughts are welcome.

Thanks for your concern. Much of my career was IT security and often at DOD sites. I share your concern. I will never tell anyone that a powered up computer is safe! I never worked security on microcontrollers and especially this new Internet of Things. The following is my thoughts on how I consider security for my network. Others will take a much more careful approach and I have no problem with that.

This project is based on Blynk servers, libraries, and programs. They hope to be a major player in the Internet of Things future which will produce enormous revenue to successful organizations. I would expect them to be very security conscious. On the other hand, I would expect government organizations, Microsoft, Target, Equifax and thousands of others to have been more careful.

I use Blynk connected through my WiFi to a Blynk server somewhere. I understand that you can download Blynk server software to run on your own server and even not connected to the internet. I’m not familiar with that option and do not plan to pursue it.

I have not used Bluetooth with microcontrollers but it is fascinating area that I may explore someday. It would be great for you or someone else to offer a class on the subject! Your lock plan would be a wonderful class project. Of course if I google for “bluetooth hacks” I get 21,000,000 entries and many of the first start with “How to…”

My comment on MacOS was based on the experience of two people in my Alarm that Tweets class. The problem was installation of the Wemos software. I want to avoid others showing up and being disappointed.

You did not mention security but I’m assuming that is on your mind. My comments clearly do not give guarantee security but do give my thoughts on it.

My classes are designed to guide absolute beginners into the fascinating world of Arduino type devices. I have another class due to hit the calendar tomorrow or Saturday. I hope to meet you in one or both. Others have offered Arduino related classes recently and probably will be repeating them soon. I encourage you to take all that you find interesting.

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Originally, I emailed Brady with the question about putting this piece together without connecting to the Internet, due to security concerns. While this may be outside of the class Brady is offering, I wanted to add a little more information for anyone interested.

On doing a little more investigating, by searching for “Bluetooth iPhone to Arduino with battery”, I found an online page that discusses Bluetooth LE (low energy) and the ability to attach a battery to the assembly.

Just goes to show that if you’re persistent, there’s probably an answer out there for you – and it amazes me at how much can be done with technology today.

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@designcat - That is a fascinating subject but I dare not look at it while working on two classes and a project for Open House.

I should have mentioned that Blynk does not use port forwarding. Port forwarding is a method of allowing a server to initiate a call through your firewall if a specific port is requested.

Apparenty with Blynk, the microcontroller initiates the calls outward and receives a response. It sounds safer to me.