A home filled with smart devices could be exposed to thousands of hacking or unknown analytics attacks in a single week, according to a report.
In the UK, homes have an average of more than 10 different connected devices, from televisions to thermostats.
But, while these products have advantages, they can also be a potential target for hackers.
General public publication Which one? set up a fake house with connected products bought online including smart TVs, printers, wireless security cameras and wifi kettles.
They were then connected to the Internet, exposing them to cyber threats and malware.
Work with cybersecurity specialists NCC Group and the Global Cyber Alliance, Which? saw 1,017 unique hack scans or attempts worldwide in the first week alone, of which at least 66 were malicious.
That number rose to 12,807 in the busiest week, including 2,435 specific attempts to maliciously log in to devices with weak default username and password.
Most attempts were blocked by security protections in devices, but this was not always the case.
Which? said most of the attempts came from the United States, India, Russia, the Netherlands and China.
The most common motivation is to create botnets that check for new, insecure devices such as routers, wireless cameras, and printers before using weak default passwords to enter.
They can then be used as a powerful hacking tool, which one? mentionned.
Kate Bevan, which one? IT editor, said, “While gadgets and smart home devices can bring enormous benefits to our daily lives, consumers should be aware that some of these devices are vulnerable to hackers and offer little or no security.
“There are a number of things people can do to better protect their homes, but hackers are getting more sophisticated.
“The proposed new government laws to tackle insecure devices cannot come soon enough – and must be backed by strict enforcement.”
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Source: news.sky.com
This notice was published: 2021-07-02 00:54:00
