Internet of Things: How to Keep Your Connected Devices Safe From Hackers
By ALYSSA NEWCOMB
2 hours ago
Good Morning America
.
View photo
Internet of Things: How to Keep Your Connected Devices Safe From Hackers (ABC News)
The "Internet of Things," the name for the ecosystem of smart devices
that can communicate with owners are hot holiday gifts this year, but
they're also prime targets for hackers.
There's a lot to love about a light bulb that can warn you when it needs
to be changed, a thermostat that can be controlled from anywhere or a
speaker that can listen to your commands.
Here's the bad news: An estimated 70 percent of "Internet of Things"
items contain major vulnerabilities that can be exploited by hackers,
according to a report released in July by Hewlett Packard's Fortify on
Demand.
How Amazon Echo Can Hear What You're Saying From Across the Room
How Skype Will Let You Talk With (Almost) Anyone in the World
How Russian Website Is Spying on Thousands of Private Moments
Before plugging in any connected item, Robert Siciliano, a McAfee identity theft expert, said users need to make sure their main devices are secure.
That means updated anti-virus and anti-phishing software, running a
sweep using spyware and making sure the device has all of the latest
patches and updates.
It's key the main device has a clean bill of health before a new peripheral device is plugged in, according to Siciliano.
"These devices could all be infected already out of the box," he said.
Once the devices are plugged in, Siciliano recommends conducting an anti-virus scan to see if there are any issues.
Another pro tip: When using a wireless connection, make sure it's secure.
"If you're functioning in a wireless environment that isn’t properly
protected then bad guys can get in through the actual device you just
connected," Siciliano said.
Perhaps one of the most alarming examples of this from 2014 was a
Russian website that posted live streams of unsecured web cams in more
than 100 countries online for anyone to watch.
The site showed everything from babies sleeping and people relaxing in
their living rooms to home exteriors and closed circuit cameras in
businesses.
The biggest lesson here: Never use the default user name and password for a device.
"Any external peripheral that you have the ability to change the default password, do so," Siciliano said.
He also advises consumers to register their devices with the
manufacturer and to hold onto the box for at least three to six months
in case their are any issues.
It's expected the "Internet of Things" will swell to as many as 26
billion devices by 2020, according to a forecast by Gartner, a
technology research firm, making it more important than ever for users
to be smart about their security. 4951