“Technology can be a two-edged sword,” Brennan said. “That’s the history of human evolution.”

Brennan used Alfred Nobel’s creation of dynamite as an example: The explosive can blow holes through mountains to connect road networks and communities, but it can also be used for “nefarious” reasons.

“The same thing is true in terms of the technical innovations that are associated with the Internet of Things,” he said. “It makes our lives a lot easier if you can open and close your garage doors or adjust your thermostat or security system when you’re not at your residence, but you also have to be mindful that that environment, if not appropriately configured, can be vulnerable to exploitation by those who are seeking to do you harm.”

Brennan said he thinks individuals have certain expectations of what companies or the government are doing to protect their information, but the responsibility falls on everyone’s shoulders. Because technology is rapidly changing, it’s a constant learning environment for producers and users.