Posted on 07/31/2014 9:54:43 AM PDT by mojito
The Internet of Things (IoT) has connected everything from smoke alarms to fridges and cars, making life easier and safer but it has also given hackers a new way to attack their victims, warns HP.
In a study of the ten most popular IoT devices (which it did not name in its report) HP found 250 potentially dangerous security vulnerabilities.
The devices came from manufacturers of TVs, webcams, home thermostats, remote power outlets, sprinkler controllers, hubs for controlling multiple devices, door locks, home alarms, scales and garage door openers.
All of the devices included remote smartphone applications which were used to control them.
It was found that 90 per cent of the devices collected personal information, 70 per cent transmitted that data on an unencrypted network and 60 per cent had insecure user interfaces. Eight out of ten failed to require a strong enough password.
(Excerpt) Read more at telegraph.co.uk ...
h/t Karl Denninger
tech ping
Per his article today, you can complete your total security failure by getting an iPhone. (Fanboy incoming)
I will never connect any of those things to the internet.
One day, your coffee-maker will conspire with your car’s on-board computer to run you off the road, during your evening commute. Meanwhile, your microwave and toaster-oven will conspire to deplete all your bank accounts. If you ever make it home, your Roomba will knock you down, and try to suck your face off.
“Sexual gratification can only be achieved through the use of machines”
Frank Zappa
Sounds like a great opportunity for someone to enter the security space and make a killing...
Lawn sprinklers?
Door locks?
Garage door openers?
Scales?
Oh cool! Look, I can turn my lawn sprinklers on and off and open and close my garage door from my SmartPhone. Wow, I am just so tech savy.
Give me a break!!
Don’t even think about what happens when your fembot conspires with your meat slicer.
How ever far back you wish to go, the hue and cry has been the same!
“All of the devices included remote smartphone applications which were used to control them.”
I’m going to buy a plain Jane water heater. I see they have them now where you can buy ones that you can monitor, change with your smartphone. Too much money. But who wants something in your basement that can be hacked, and set to “bomb” instead. (Just saw some MythBusters shows about water heaters - amazing and scary!)
thermostats, power outlets, sprinklers.... collected personal data??
“It always feels like, somebody’s watching me!!”
The most dangerous of those is ordering from HP online. They stole my credit card and ran up a bill on iTunes. Neither HP or Apple would fix it.
Heck, they can't even provide a decent router/modem/wifi and worst of all, their tech support people are pretty lame.
Exactly. Wise person. However, that is what make them interesting to some folks — being able to set your thermostat remotely from your smart phone, etc. Fools!
Also, wouldn't Apple have account information about the perp?
Yes and yes.
Good. At least you weren’t out the money.
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