IoT Security Issues Contine

Despite increasing levels of vendor vigilance, security-related problems continue to disrupt IoT.

10:24 19 January 2018

Internet of Things (IoT) is a term that refers to devices with network connectivity. They are equipped with embedded technology, allowing them to interact with one another or the external environment. Because their number is increasing exponentially, IoT has become an attractive target for cybercriminals, who can hack the devices and cause harm to users. Hackers can spy on users and gather information that they can use to steal their identities or blackmail them.  

 

Researchers at Kaspersky Lab have once again analysed several randomly selected smart devices to determine if IoT security has improved over the years. After testing a smart charger, a smart camera, a smart scale, a smart cleaner, and a smartwatch, they found that only one satisfied the researchers’ security requirements.

 

“At Kaspersky Lab, we have been monitoring the issue of smart devices’ cybersecurity for years. We are now seeing that various reports on smart ‘IoT’ products and increasing levels of vendor vigilance have helped to decrease the volume of insecure smart devices. However, the problem is still there and smart devices still can bring harm to their owners, indicating that there is much more work to be done jointly by cyber security firms and vendors of connected devices,” notes Oleg Zaitsev, a security expert at Kaspersky Lab.