Is the Internet of Things Secure?
Keeping hackers out of your smart home
January 03, 2017
The Internet of Things is not secure. The Mirai attacks on the IoT late last year are proof of that.
Mirai malware turned network devices into remotely controlled "bots", that can be used as part of a botnet in large-scale network attacks. It primarily targets online consumer devices such as remote cameras and home routers.
Devices infected by Mirai continuously scan the internet for the IP address of Internet of things (IoT) devices. Mirai then identifies vulnerable IoT devices using a table of more than 60 common factory default usernames and passwords, and logs into them to infect them with the Mirai malware.
Infected devices will continue to function normally, until they are directed to attack a web site by bombarding it with page requests from all the infected bots at the same time. This is what happened in the October 2016 Dyn cyberattack.
How to make your home network more secure.
Any of the wireless devices connected to your home or office network can be an entry point for hackers. But, you can make your own private IoT domain more secure by doing this.
Any wireless device, like a router or nanny cam, needs to send a device identification name and a password to connect to your network. The default Device ID and Password is “admin”. If you don’t change this when installing the device, hackers can gain entry to your network by using this login.
To make your network more secure, and to help prevent another widespread malware attack, change the default settings on all your network devices by following the manufacturer’s instructions.
More resources on making the internet of things secure
How to Change Your Wi Fi Password
10 things to know about the October 21 IoT DDoS attacks
Here’s how to prevent your smart home from being hacked
How do you fix the Internet of Things? A better router
References
Internet of Anonymous Things by sndrv on Flickr
About Jack Hanson
Jack is not your typical future technology blogger. As an early baby boomer, he's lost a bit of his bang. Not intending to be cruel, Facebook recently notified him that his schoolmates at General Equivalency Diploma, really want to be friends again. His yearly income averages just above his monthly urges. In spite of that, or because of it, Jack has a lust for living, a thirst for knowledge and a strong desire to contribute to a better future for all.
A nerdy social misfit with a head full of phobias and a quirky sense of humor, his personality has been described as "Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory--without the genious part."
Jack Hanson is solely responsible for the articles, editing and web design of FutureForAll.org.