Emerging Threat: Internet of Things (IoT)

iot

IoT refers to internet-enabled electronic devices which are not computers, smartphones, or tablets. These may include lightbulbs, refrigerators, coffee makers, and toys, and are internet-enabled to facilitate ease of use for owners. For instance, with a light bulb connected to the internet, it is possible for the owner to use a smartphone application to remotely turn it off and to monitor its power usage. Unfortunately, these devices frequently do not contain security components, so it may be possible for a remote attacker to use such a device to start a fire (e.g. turn a coffeepot on), ruin evidence (e.g. disable the refrigerator containing evidence), or gain access to other components (e.g. security cameras). While there have been no documented cases of large-scale attacks, there have been some instances of such devices causing a denial of service on a home owner’s network (http://fusion.net/story/55026/this-guys-light-bulb-ddosed-his-entire-smart-house/), and malicious access to people’s home web cameras (http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/20/world/europe/uk-web-cam-hacking-explainer/)

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