## 6 The Way Forward  
The IoNT is still a relatively new field, and many researchers are working towards making it a stable technology. The majority of the current research focuses on the potential uses of nanotechnologies in medical care and the design of hardware and software solutions for the IoNT. As we have noticed, concerns about security and privacy for the IoNT have not received much attention from academia or industry. In order to protect users' security and privacy, it is crucial to concentrate efforts on coupling the current security systems used in traditional networks with nanonetworks or on implementing novel innovative solutions. Hence, in the following, we provide a brief discussion on anticipated future directions in terms of the security and privacy of the IoNT:  
* Advancement in cryptography  
With the development of quantum computing, classical cryptography may become less effective. Therefore, there is a need for new cryptographic techniques that can withstand quantum attacks. Post-quantum cryptography is a field that is actively being researched and developed to provide security for the IoNT [37; 40; 42; 43; 44; 45];
* Blockchain-based solutions  
The decentralization and immutability of blockchain technology can be applied to the IoNT to provide a secure and transparent way to manage the identities and interactions of nanodevices [36; 37; 38; 39; 40; 44; 45; 46; 57];  
* Edge and Fog Computing  
As the number of nanodevices connected to the IoNT increases, it will become increasingly challenging to manage and process the data generated by these devices. Edge and fog computing can be used to bring computation and storage closer to the devices, thus reducing the need to transmit sensitive data over the Internet [29; 30; 40];  
* AI-based security  
AI algorithms (machine learning and deep learning) can be used to detect and respond to security threats within the IoNT in real time [37; 38]. This can include identifying and blocking malicious nanodevices, detecting and mitigating real-time denial-of-service and distributed denial-of-service attacks, and identifying and responding to suspicious network activity;  
* Privacy-enhancing technologies  
Privacy-enhancing technologies such as homomorphic encryption, multiparty computation, and differential privacy can be used to protect sensitive data while still allowing their use for data analysis and machine learning [37; 38; 46; 47; 48; 50; 58];  
* Interdisciplinary research  
Security and privacy within the IoNT require an interdisciplinary approach involving experts from various fields such as computer science, nanotechnology, physics, and biomedicine [44; 45; 46; 47; 51; 52; 56; 59]. Further research in the IoNT will require collaboration between experts in these fields, and organizations and industries should provide continuous investments towards solving the privacy and security challenges in the domain [60].  
In summary, the security and privacy of the IoNT are complex challenges that require a multi-faceted approach. Advancements in cryptography, blockchain-based solutions,edge and fog computing, machine learning-based security, privacy-enhancing technologies, and interdisciplinary research are some of the future directions that could be explored to ensure the safe and secure operation of the IoNT while protecting individuals' privacy rights.