Common Cyber Threats Against IoT Devices

Common Cyber Threats Against IoT Devices

As the use of network-connected smart home automation devices (many of which are insecure) skyrockets, so do incidents of IoT security breaches, such as:

 

Your public IP address is tracked by hackers when IP addresses are leaked from unsecured devices, increasing the risk of intrusion into your home (criminals know when you're not home).

Your hacked device has turned into a mail server capable of sending thousands of spam messages without the device owner knowing.

 

Their compromised devices are recruited as malicious botnets to perform massive Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks against the government or public entities

 

The inability of your IoT devices to encrypt messages before they are sent over the network to secure communications and user information.

 

Your device's vulnerable to outside access since manufacturers don't tell customers to change the default password, which attackers can easily brute force. The vulnerability of your router to remote access, which allows hackers to break into the home network and discover unsecured IoT devices.

 

IoT smart home devices give hackers easy access to your home network. Make sure you understand how this is possible and take the right steps to secure your home.

 

 

What happens when hackers turn smart devices against you?

Once accessed and compromised, your smart devices can wreak havoc on your life. Your smart lock, installed to enter the house without a physical key? Now it can lock you out or unlock the door for intruders.

 

The smart light you set to turn on and off automatically? Now he can decide to turn on all the lights - and all the other appliances - until your electrical system is overloaded. That smart vacuum cleaner that you can schedule to do the cleaning for you? Believe it or not, it can now show potential burglars the layout of your home.

 

 Do you have a router that connects your devices to the internet and provides all that convenience? Warning, this may disclose your personally identifiable information or private information now.

 

You understand. Each link in the "intelligent chain" must be secured.

Smart homes are great, but they're also too open. According to OSWAP, each IoT device alone has 15 attack surfaces.

 

Smart homeowners, ensure smart security and protect your IoT devices from attack:

 

Accounting for all your connected devices. Be sure to write down each device's recent settings, credentials, versions, and patches, so you know what security steps to take or even if a device needs to be replaced or updated. Check the smart home device before sending or receiving data. Using two-way authentication via cryptographic algorithms ensures that the data comes from a legitimate, rather than fraudulent, source.

 

Replace default or weak passwords to prevent hackers from accessing brute force and change device settings to achieve greater security.

 

Use encryption to protect data as it travels from your device to the cloud to make sure no one can access the data sent without the correct decryption key.

 

Segment IoT devices by deploying two wireless connections in your home, configuring IoT devices separately, and creating different passwords to prevent the spread of attacks and shut down problematic devices. Your best bet is to adopt a solution - enterprise-grade security protection customized for homes - that can scan your home network for any unusual activity, then shut it down immediately, knowing an attempt has been made to invade your privacy.

December 05, 2022 — Chief Editor

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