IoT Device and Hack
This recent increase in IoT devices have proved mindboggling challenge to cyber world. No doubt IoT devices has significantly eased our life. The smart refrigerator tells you when the milk is over, available veggies. Adding to this here are some of the noteworthy IoT devices.
August doorbell camp: this small doorbell allows you to talk to visitor at your doorstep through your smart phone and also to record the visitor you have missed have missed.
Canary: another home security system that automatically detect when your away and sends alert to your connected smart phone. It also records audio and video.
Awair: this device design to keep you up and sends you air quality update. The five sensors of this device optimally check the air quality and controls your allergies and improves your general health.
Eversense: it’s a smart wifi thermostat. It senses where your smart phone is and accordingly adjust the temperature based on multiple concentric proximity zone. It works for all the family member. It is based on the use of proximity technology, multi zone proximity and independent adjustable zone.
Philips Hue: it offers control of line of connected lighting product.
Gartner predicted that there are 8 billion devices IoT devices in 2017 and it will grow to nearly 21 billion by the year 2020. These leading number of devices leads to an increase in cyber-crime. Recently, Jens Regel, a German researcher in security have discovered threat in almost an insignificant simple device, dishwasher. So, we can presume the cyber threat we are likely to experience with 21 billion devices (that would include sophisticated device too). So far there is no fix to the bug found in dishwasher which absolutely raise more concern.
Another recent update from Dahua. Well Dahua is the world second largest IoT device liker security camera manufacturer.The vulnerability reported gave remote access of the system. Yes, the bug allows anyone to bypass the login process and have full control of the system.The vulnerability allows anyone to bypass the login process for these devices and gain remote, direct control over vulnerable systems. Adding urgency to the situation, there is now code available online that allows anyone to exploit this bug and commandeer a large number of IoT devices. The simple flaw in many Dahua security cameras in authentication. The researcher who disclosed this labeled it as backdoor. Later, the company released list of cameras that has been identified vulnerable. Now, even though the company has released the list but still some of the consumer will remain unaware of it or they will not take significant steps to secure the devices.
And of course, the Miari attack of 2016. We have seen the powerful DDoS bot infected attack, an IoT botnet, network of computer in watch of poor security of internet connected devices has knocked most sophisticated website which include Twitter, Netflix, Pinterest and Spotify.
It’s simple the cost of convenience is your security. From your simple dishwasher, your smart coffee machine and considerably more secure security devices are not secure. I would like to conclude with few possible security tips for IoT devices at user end so to reduce if not eliminate the loss. Time and again it’s been told to secure your handheld device with strong password.
#Tip 1: The Strong password. Nothing can beat the power of strong password.
#Tip2: Understand your online presence. Control what information is being shared by your device when your connected to internet.
#Tip3: Remove the apps you don’t use or update. Understand this thing the apps you don’t use any more nor do you find any reason to update should be removed. The recent bug in that app could land you in trouble.
#Tips 4: Research, before you buy and IoT device look for its latest news. Who knows you may end up buying a grenade. So its recommended to look for its security problems. (which include recent hacks)
