Do you think as yourself as living in a \u201csmart home\u201d? If you look around you may notice that you are surrounded by internet-connected, computing devices, including IP cameras, speakers, doorbells, and even refrigerators. These physical products embedded with electronics and software are generally referred to as the Internet of Things (IoT).<\/p>\n
IoT products differ from dedicated tech devices, like computers, smartphones and tablets, in that their primary function is to do offline tasks, which are enhanced by connecting to the internet. An internet-enabled car, for instance, is still made for driving, but it can also potentially connect to the driver\u2019s device and home electronics, make phone calls, and display cameras.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s no doubt that the Internet of Things can make our lives more convenient (just think how easy it is to ask an interactive speaker to place an order online), but it also opens us up to new risks. This is because most IoT devices lack built-in security features, making them vulnerable to malware and hacking.<\/p>\n
Take the 2016 Mirai<\/a> botnet attack, which took down a large part of the internet on the East Coast. This botnet was actually made up of 2.5 million compromised IoT devices, such as webcams and routers, which were infected by malware programmed to guess default passwords. The combined power of these IoT devices was then used to flood the internet\u2019s Domain Name System servers with traffic, crippling the internet\u2019s address book.<\/p>\n And since Mirai, IoT attacks have increased substantially both in number and sophistication. The IoT_Reaper<\/a> malware, for instance, leveraged nine different vulnerabilities in webcams and routers to infect millions of devices, creating a massive army of \u201cbots<\/a>\u201d that could potentially be used to launch attacks.<\/p>\n These threats are increasing at the same time as our thirst for more connected devices<\/a> is growing. Everything from smart thermostats to interactive eyeglasses are expected to make up the 20.8 billion connected devices that are predicted<\/a> to exist in consumer homes by 2020.<\/p>\n