FBI and DHS Warn of Security Risks from the Internet of Things

Posted on September 21, 2015 by Radnor Reports

The FBI and Department of Homeland Security have issued alerts about, in essence, the modern Internet.

Their public service announcements concern security risks posed by the so-called Internet of Things, or IoT, a situation where everyday objects connect to a network.

Researchers this summer proved that connected items can endanger people driving cars and wearing pacemakers. The Defense Department secretary last week mentioned the inventors of the Internet have been working on security fixes for IoT.

Internet of Things: Security is getting better, but far from secure

Posted on September 20, 2015 by Radnor Reports

Connected devices are common all around the world today and becoming more and more common. In years past the only things that were typically networked were computers, tablets, and smartphones. That is all changing with cheap sensors and chips that allow literally anything to be placed on a network. Appliances are getting network capabilities for all sorts of new features.

Sensors that you can place on devices that didn’t initially come with IoT capability are available as well. The issues that surround the IoT are the same issues that surround any networked device with the big issue being privacy and security. Most people don’t want other people being able to access data from networked devices in their home or office.

The big concern is that something like your car or refrigerator that is networked might pose a security hole that allows nefarious users to access your network, potentially exposing your person data by giving access to devices on your network like computers that have personal information…

Could Your Smoke Detector Steal Your Identity?

Posted on August 31, 2015 by Radnor Reports

Ever get the feeling you’re being watched? The answer is probably yes. Most of your online life is likely being tracked and recorded by someone somewhere every single moment. It’s almost impossible to walk down a street without that innocent behavior being caught on camera. And even your phone is probably tracking your every movement if you’ve got something as simple as geo location switched on.

But what about in your own home? Your TV, your refrigerator, even your smoke alarm? Are they in on this surveillance thing too? The answer is yes, and while it might not be happening in your home, right now, it could happen soon. Because it’s already happened to others.

Welcome to the Internet of Things, or IoT, the latest and maybe scariest battlefront between you and those who seek to snoop on or hack your life.

Internet roulette: Is the Internet of Things worth the risk?

Posted on August 27, 2015 by Radnor Reports

Are we ready for the “Internet of Things”? Probably not. The phrase — coined in 1999 by researcher Kevin Ashton while working for Procter & Gamble — refers to things (cars, homes, factories, hospitals) whose performance is monitored and guided by digital networks. We already have one wildly successful example: GPS navigation that directs us to unfamiliar destinations. But countless other possibilities have excited futurists and tech companies.

Be skeptical. It’s not that technological opportunities aren’t genuine. The trouble is that they come with huge risks — risks that tend to be minimized or presumed solvable. The more activities we put on the Internet and other networks, the more vulnerable we become to hacking, cyberwarfare, software glitches and the like.

As the Internet of Things (IoT) connects innumerable everyday devices, previously closed systems are opened up to remote access and control.

Posted on August 22, 2015 by Radnor Reports

Unfortunately, hostile parties lurk everywhere, ready to exploit any vulnerability. To attain full rewards of the digital age, businesses and consumers need to believe the IoT’s benefits exceed their risks.

Our increasingly connected world carries both opportunities and threats. Assess your readiness.

Driverless cars: facing cyber attack threat from hackers

Posted on August 16, 2015 by Radnor Reports

We know cars are getting smarter and increasingly taking over from the driver. But a pressing question is emerging. Are they more vulnerable to being hacked?

As was reported recently, friendly hackers ‘steered’ a Fiat Chrysler Jeep into a ditch. And it raised the spectre (as rather expertly outlined on Bloomberg) that it was a warning….

The Benefits and Security Risks of the Internet of Things

Posted on July 7, 2015 by Radnor Reports

The Internet of Things (IoT) is revolutionizing our everyday lives.

The term Internet of Things (IoT) refers to the interconnection of uniquely identifiable devices within the existing Internet infrastructure. In more simple terms, it’s an environment where Internet-connected devices and sensors communicate with each other to perform a designated task. The end result is automation, efficiency, safety, and convenience- just to name a few.

By 2020, the IoT ecosystem will expand to 212 billion connected ‘things’ and expected to be a $8.9 trillion market. So it’s no doubt IoT devices will integrate into our daily lives. But as consumers are increasingly drawn to the conveniences and benefits of IoT devices, most are unaware …

Refrigerator caught sending spam emails in botnet attack

Posted on July 4, 2015 by Radnor Reports

In the first documented attack of its kind, the Internet of Things has been used as part of an attack that sent out over 750,000 spam emails from a refrigerator….

IoT’s dark side: Hundreds of unsecured devices open to attack

Posted on July 3, 2015 by Radnor Reports

A self-described security “amateur” discovered hundreds of Internet-connected devices ranging from cameras to industrial control systems that were connected to the Internet without even basic password protection — meaning they could be easily turned on and off or otherwise manipulated with a single click of a mouse.

Kaspersky: Internet of Things means Internet of Threats

Posted on March 19, 2015 by Radnor Reports

The way Eugene Kaspersky sees it, there may soon come a day when you wake up and your coffeemaker refuses to brew anything – or worse, will only brew decaf – until you pay up on the ransomware that has infected it.

Kaspersky, CEO of Kaspersky Lab, told some of the company’s top partners at its annual North American Partner Conference here this weekend that he believes IoT stands not only for “Internet of Things,” but also for “Internet of Threats.”

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Category Archives: Internet of Things