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 ...
Working closely with IT security teams, I can tell you personally that the #1 most exploited non-standard web-enabled devices are TVs and BluRay players. Most of these devices are not set to automatically update software, and most users don’t bother to update the firmware/software once they have them.
I have several devices that are on my network(TV, gaming consoles, ect)
Almost all of them are what I’d refer to as being ‘insecure’, sending data in ‘human readable’ text. Sure, my home WiFi network is encrypted, but that doesn’t assure any traffic is encrypted once it leaves my site(home). I know for a fact that my TV(Samsung) and gaming consoles(PS4/XBox1) ‘phone home’ with sensitive information. They could EASILY implement encryption, but obviously choose not to do so...
All “smart” devices are designed to regulate the human per EPA or worse yet, UN Agenda 21.
On your knees, touch your head to the ground and pray to the Google overlords.
Except Apple and HP knew who did it but refused to stop it saying it happens too often to stop. Uh, excuse me! Even my credit card company refused to press charges and ate the theft even though it was enough for a hefty fine and 2 years behind bars. The local cops finally dropped it after over a year because everything was out of state. Criminals know this so they’re not worried. That, my FRiend is why cc rates are so high and why us honest customers have to pay so much for products.
If you can control your thermostat remotely, so can your government.
Exactly! Same with the ISP.
And they can snoop around on your network. And these devices use wifi which isn’t as secure as good old wired.
That is why I bought my own router and modem. I can control my own network.
If you rent your router/modem from the ISP, they have full control on the LAN side. I know this because when we tried Comcast’s telephone service, they forced us to take an all in one router/modem/wifi/VOIP POS. I wanted to turn off the wifi but couldn’t so I had to contact Comcast. Sure enough, they were able to configure the wifi. Scary.
And how quickly would Comcast or other ISPs allow the Feds access to your private network?
Also, I always wonder if there is some hidden port in the routers that allows full access to your network. At minimum, there are probably vulnerabilities. Call me paranoid.
Greenie weenies have already made it clear that they don’t believe citizens should be able to set their thermostats at whatever temp they’d like.
Ya. Damn them.
If they had done their jobs, those crooks might be in jail and not committing other crimes.
Yup. There may come a day when you can’t control your thermostat.
Right now it is optional and apparently you get a discount. But it may become mandatory.
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