The IoT devices
The IoT comprises of several billions of devices, connected to communicate over the internet. These enormous application devices put in place at the hospitals, homes and the offices utilizing IoT. The IoT devices have huge and vital applications in our daily activities, which include simplifying our tedious jobs and manual routines. The IoT devices besides, pose a potential security threat to personal data and privacy to persons owning them, leading to stealing of information or illegal encryption of personal data. The named threat is caused by IoT manufacturers who do not place the security of their customers at their core of manufacturing process of the smart-devices. IoT devices need to be secured to ensure the safety of the general public and the consumers smart-devices.
The IoT smart devices are having security flaws include but not limited to, the following; smart fingerprint padlock. Security threats associated with this device were enumerated as; the device can be screwed with enough force through its back to unlock it and secondly, the fingerprint padlock can be opened using Bluetooth mac-address. This implied that any person could potentially connect to the device. Smart Wi-fi kettle used to boil water remotely was easily hacked and used by hackers to find the Wi-fi password in which it was connected. The hackers could also use the device to map other smart kettles in the area. The manufacturers later fixed the security threat in this device.
The swearing and snooping smart toys were made to connect to the phone without a pin, which indicates that any person within the required distance range can connect to the device spy on or respond to a conversation. Another example of a security issue with the smart technology of IoT is the use of Video cameras. They are commonly used at homes and offices; in sending data remotely to the phones and the cloud. It was discovered that changing the camera ID enabled one to switch to someone’s else camera footage. The manufacture, however, fixed the flaw in the camera. The cabled cameras used in many homes, offices and other premises, which do not use Wi-fi like the previous one, also had security flaws. A hacker connected all the smart camera devices globally arranging them to attack websites including Facebook in 2016. The smart devices can also be held to ransom by attackers. The study on the thermostat, the heating and air conditioning confirmed this. The whole nation can be brought into the chaos of power cut if a hacker could connect all the thermostat at the same time across the country.
The new developments across several countries have been to ban the use of IoT devices which do not adhere to utmost security features. For instance, the smart doll has been banned in several countries in European nations, including Belgium and Germany. The main message in the talk to every individual is to place strong passwords, pins to computers, Wi-fi and other security areas, by applying long passwords, changing them frequently and using patches to ensure the passwords are not easily predictable. The IoT devices at home should have their network, that is the internet operating the IoT device at home should be independent of the system used by personal computers and phones. In conclusion, the IoT devices and equipment should be avoided where necessary unless the vendors prove their security, which indicates that when it comes to security issues, the IoT devices should people be afraid of.