Nowadays, smart technology is everywhere. Chances are, you’re now sitting next to a smart TV, a plug, a speaker, or a voice assistant.
These devices, known by many as the “Internet of Things” (IoT), are integral to our lives, helping us entertain, organize, and care for ourselves. And we’re buying more and more of these devices every year. Experts predict that by 2025, over 41.6 billion IoT devices will be connected worldwide.
Unsurprisingly, hackers divert their attention to these small devices to attack us in our homes. But do IoT devices pose a threat? Can a smart plug or a toothbrush harm us?
This article will explore some of the most common myths about IoT devices and their security. It will separate fact from fiction and offer valuable tips and tricks to help you keep your devices safe.
Fact or fiction—are IoT devices a cybersecurity risk?
As technology evolves rapidly, it’s understandable there is a lot of paranoia about where this industry is going. Earlier this year, a story published on the Swiss news site Aarguer Zeitung claimed that three million smart toothbrushes were used in an elaborate DDoS cyberattack against a company.
The story quickly went viral, and people claimed that the attack cost millions of euros in damages. It didn’t take long for many cybersecurity companies to debunk the story, referring to it as a “hypothetical situation” that could happen in theory.
While fake, the story raises the issue of whether or not criminals can exploit devices. So, how could IoT devices be attacked? Let’s examine the four biggest misconceptions:
Myth 1: Smart devices are highly advanced and can protect themselves
Fact: We often call IoT devices “smart technology,” leading many people to think they are sophisticated, advanced, and equipped with everything they need to fend off an attack.
Unfortunately, the opposite is true. IoT devices often lack computational power or an interface to install and maintain security software. This makes them open to exploitation and attack, so owners must implement additional measures to keep them secure.
Moreover, many IoT devices share standard components and coding, which means that hackers have ample opportunity to develop hacks that can target a wide range of similar devices.
Myth 2: Manufacturers are always on top of exploits
Fact: IoT devices are susceptible to zero-day attacks when cybercriminals take advantage of an unaddressed security flaw, leading to a piece of software or a device being exploited.
The developers may be unaware of an exploit for quite some time because many people can find it difficult to update their IoT devices regularly. Many people may continue to use compromised IoT devices for lengthy periods.
Myth 3: Criminals have no interest in IoT devices at home
Fact: People think that criminals have no interest in hacking home devices. As such, they have a false sense of security around IoT devices.
However, in 2022, over 52% of all reported IoT vulnerabilities came from smart TVs at home. So why would hackers be interested in what you watch?
IoT devices collect an enormous amount of personal data about us, from the services we use and the things we buy to our name, location, behavior, and more. By stealing this information, hackers can launch more sophisticated cyberattacks at us.
Myth 4: IoT devices are too risky to be embraced
Fact: Many skeptics believe IoT devices pose too great a security risk to be fully embraced. But this can put off so many people from all the great benefits smart technology offers. Thankfully, there are many ways to bolster their defenses and ensure you can continue using smart technology without compromising your privacy and security.
Five ways to protect your IoT devices from cyberattacks
Below are some simple but effective ways of ensuring your IoT devices are kept safe:
- Protect your network by separating devices.
IoT owners should segment their network, which helps create a virtual barrier between devices. With proper segmentation, even if one device is attacked, a hacker won’t be able to move throughout the network quickly.
Additionally, the amount of information they can collect will be limited, and they will be unable to spread malware to other devices.
The network segmentation can organize and manage devices by function, brand, location, etc. You only need to create a guest network and connect specific devices. You can even place a strong password on this network to ensure it remains safe and secure.
- Secure your internet connections with a VPN
One of the best ways of protecting all of your IoT devices is by securing their connection to the internet. You can easily do this using a virtual private network (VPN).
A VPN on your router encrypts all data sent and received across all connected devices. This prevents hackers from being able to monitor your online activity or identify vulnerable devices in your home.
By taking out a free VPN trial, you’ll experience first-hand the instant security and anonymity this tool can give you and your devices with just one click. Whether using a smart toothbrush, security cameras, or other IoT devices, a VPN will add another layer to every device in your home.
- Activate multi-factor authentication
Many IoT devices require you to create an app or website account to use their services. As such, you must also protect these linked accounts because they can be compromised to gain intimate access to your home. One of the easiest ways of protecting yourself is by activating multi-factor authentication (MFA) on IoT devices.
MFA is a safety mechanism that, upon login, asks the user to verify their identity by another means. Usually, this is via a single-use code, text message, or an authenticator app. Activating MFA can prevent unauthorized access to devices and flag suspicious login activity, thus informing you that someone is trying to attack your home.
- Always keep devices updated
One core weakness of all IoT devices is their limited interface. They can’t be protected by traditional antivirus software because they don’t have much computational power or hardware capabilities.
Updates are one of their best lines of defense. You must keep all your IoT devices up-to-date to take advantage of the latest security protections released by the manufacturers.
- Disconnect devices you don’t need
As we buy more IoT devices, we increase our attack surface, i.e., the sum of pathways a hacker can use to launch an attack. As such, proper device management is of the utmost importance.
Inactive devices on your network still pose a threat, as hackers might be able to identify their presence and hijack them. So, it’s wise to disconnect devices to ensure they’ve been adequately wiped and fully turned off to prevent them from being a liability in your home.