Securing the Internet of Things

July 2018 Information Security, Industrial (Industry)

With more than 75 billion devices expected to be connected to the Internet by 2025, the Internet of Things (IoT) has become an integral part of the digital world. As we become more reliant on these devices for our work and personal lives, we need to be aware of their inherent security risks.

Jorina van Rensburg, MD of Condyn.
Jorina van Rensburg, MD of Condyn.

One of the biggest problems is the login and password details of connected devices. These are typically preconfigured by manufacturers. How many end-users change these default settings? Using sophisticated tools, hackers can ‘snoop’ the Internet for these standard details and can easily gain access to them, severely compromising the user.

Another challenge is how easy it has become for manufacturers to send through updates to connected devices. Because this communication is unencrypted, patches can be installed remotely for bug fixes. While ostensibly a good thing, they do leave back doors open for malicious users to exploit.

Of course, it is not always about accessing data but also spying on people. For example, the increasing number of smart televisions in homes have seen some manufacturers pull data that shows what consumers are watching. Even worse, those sets with embedded Web cameras can also be hacked and used to look into the homes of people without them even realising it.

Getting smart

People are not cybersecurity experts. Many will not read the terms of use or technical documentation. It is all about using the connected device as quickly as possible. This is where the term ‘plug-and-play’ comes from – the manufacturer provides standard settings designed to make the device as easy as possible to use when it lands in front of a consumer.

Alexei Parfentiev, senior business analyst at SearchInform, believes a distinction should be made between IoT and the Industrial IoT (IIoT).

“The former is person-oriented and makes people’s life comfortable. The latter is developed for an industry and must be optimised.” Smart appliances, for example, help people save electricity or take care of their health. Within some industries, devices are used to automate menial administrator tasks, increase enterprise productivity, and let employees focus on more strategic roles.

Irrespective of whether it is consumer-facing or enterprise-focused, the reality is that IoT devices need better security. “Manufacturers must take responsibility to protect these devices and warn users of possible cybersecurity threats. Sadly, making the sale seems to be the only priority. But the situation might improve if vendors are motivated to take IoT security more seriously. For example, regulators could fine manufacturers if found guilty of neglecting their corporate responsibilities when it comes to securing devices.”

So, while it becomes inconvenient if a smart home system fails and the doors do not open automatically, imagine the impact if an armament system or power station is compromised. Security therefore has to be a priority in this new era of connected devices and the IoT.

For more information, go to www.condyn.net





Share this article:
Share via emailShare via LinkedInPrint this page



Further reading:

Highest increase in global cyberattacks in two years
Information Security News & Events
Check Point Global Research released new data on Q2 2024 cyber-attack trends, noting a 30% global increase in Q2 2024, with Africa experiencing the highest average weekly per organisation.

Read more...
What does Agentic AI mean for cybersecurity?
Information Security AI & Data Analytics
AI agents will change how we work by scheduling meetings on our behalf and even managing supply chain items. However, without adequate protection, they become soft targets for criminals.

Read more...
Phishing attacks through SVG image files
Kaspersky News & Events Information Security
Kaspersky has detected a new trend: attackers are distributing phishing emails to individual and corporate users with attachments in SVG (Scalable Vector Graphics) files, a format commonly used for storing images.

Read more...
Crypto in SA: between progress and precaution
Information Security
“As cryptocurrency gains momentum and legitimacy, it’s becoming increasingly important for people to pay attention to financial security”, says Richard Frost, head of technology and innovation at Armata Cyber Security.

Read more...
Cyber recovery requires a different approach to disaster recovery
Information Security
Disaster recovery is about getting operations back on track after unexpected disruptions; cyber recovery, however, is about calculated actions by bad actors aiming to disrupt your business, steal sensitive data, or hold your system hostage.

Read more...
MDR users claim 97,5% less
Sophos Information Security
The average cyber insurance claim following a significant cyberattack is just $75 000 for MDR users, compared with $3 million for endpoint-only users, according to a new independent study.

Read more...
The impact of GenAI on cybersecurity
Sophos News & Events Information Security
Sophos survey finds that 89% of IT leaders worry GenAI flaws could negatively impact their organisation’s cybersecurity strategies, with 87% of respondents stating they were concerned about a resulting lack of cybersecurity accountability.

Read more...
Efficient, future-proof estate security and management
Technews Publishing ElementC Solutions Duxbury Networking Fang Fences & Guards Secutel Technologies OneSpace Technologies DeepAlert SMART Security Solutions Editor's Choice Information Security Security Services & Risk Management Residential Estate (Industry) AI & Data Analytics IoT & Automation
In February this year, SMART Security Solutions travelled to Cape Town to experience the unbelievable experience of a city where potholes are fixed, and traffic lights work; and to host the Cape Town SMART Estate Security Conference 2025.

Read more...
Kaspersky KATA 7.0 for targeted attack protection
Information Security Products & Solutions
] Kaspersky has announced a major update to its Kaspersky Anti Targeted Attack (KATA) including enhanced network detection and response (NDR) capabilities with deeper network visibility, internal threats detection and other critical security features.

Read more...
The role of advanced technologies in ransomware recovery
Information Security
As businesses increasingly adopt cloud technologies, the complexities of maintaining resilience and ensuring rapid recovery from such incidents become even more pronounced. The integration of advanced technologies is essential to navigate these challenges effectively.

Read more...