The IoT (Internet of Things) is the primary source of the numerous conveniences and advantages of our embedded electronic devices and everyday items in this current age. Both seniors and young people enjoy these conveniences and there is an unspoken consensus that it will only get better.
From young children using smart watches capable of solving complex math questions to seniors using this tech in devices such as pacemakers, it seems there is so much more to come. We cannot wait for it to get here.
While this future looks brighter than ever, the astonishing growth rate in the application of IoT tech is also bringing a problem – sensitive data leakage. These devices are not so secure when it comes to processing stored data. That makes it an easy target for malicious actors to access and use the data for nefarious purposes. According to a recent study by Ponemon Institute, surveyed businesses reported a 50% increase in the attacks on the IoT devices used for their day-to-day operations.
Devices in your home and business that you use every day must be as secure as possible to prevent hackers from getting their hands on your data and using it to cause harm to you (and your business). What are these everyday devices that can leak your sensitive data? Read on to find out.
Which Everyday Items Can Be Easily Hacked?
This section describes how hackers gain access to everyday items and devices and how you can prevent it. Here are some everyday items and devices that can be easily hacked and ways to prevent it:
Smart TVs
A smart television offers several hacking opportunities. When hackers gain control of a smart TV, most of the time they just do are harmless annoying pranks such as changing channels, increasing the volume and picking movies you did not choose. If you have connected your TV to other devices in the home, all of those devices and items can also be accessed by hackers. That means hackers can easily access all of the devices in your home and cause many issues.
Also, if you use a TV app to make payments for some streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime, hackers can data mine your TV and extract your credit card details and information. That comes easy for hackers as many users do not change the default passwords that come with their TVs. Companies that vend smart TVs monetize it by harvesting user information through post-purchase data collection. This data is used for advertising and other service and product sales to users.
Always change your smart TV passwords and clear your cache periodically. This might mean inputting your credit card info every time you need to purchase a product or service but it is better than getting hacked.
Digital Thermostats
Digital thermostats are used in homes to maintain the standard and preferred temperatures of the house. These items help reduce heating and cooling costs as it works with automation.
If hackers get access to your home’s digital thermostat, they could cause havoc by changing the home’s temperature at odd hours and begin to breed fear and anxiety in the homeowners. They could decide to collect a ransom before disconnecting from the thermostat for good. That gets even worse when dependents (babies and seniors) are part of the home’s occupants.
Ensure you get a digital thermostat with good security features. You can ask friends and family for referrals.
Baby Monitors
Baby monitors are another everyday item that could cause the leakage of sensitive data.
Some baby monitors are connected to the building’s Wi-Fi which makes it easier for parents to control them from other devices. Because these everyday items display their passwords on the device screen, it is easy for anyone to get the details (such as the IP address) and log in from a remote place and control the monitor.
Hackers can also use baby monitors to access other information like family names and medical information. Ensure you monitor all devices connected to the baby monitor (and vice versa) and change your passwords frequently. Also, ensure that you use strong passwords.
Smart Cameras
Smart cameras are also highly vulnerable to hack attacks. Depending on the setup and configuration, hacking these everyday items can give malicious actors access to your home’s video and audio feeds. To prevent this, ensure you constantly change your password and monitor all IoT devices on your network. Also, regularly check for firmware and software updates so that you will always be protected against hackers.
Voice-Activated Speakers
Smart voice-activated devices such as Echo and Alexa are also loopholes when hacked. Since they store your voice patterns and keywords, hackers can gain access and analyze the data for passwords and other important information. Also, when you use these everyday items for calls, they can monitor your calls and find out sensitive information such as meeting times, schedule details, bank account details and passwords.
Lastly, if your smart speaker is connected to the main network (which your security system is also connected to) a hacker could use it to shut down your security system and enter your house when you’re not there. You can ask an IT cybersecurity professional for guidance and tips on protecting yourself.
Prevent Sensitive Data Leakage with Sound Computers
Using IoT devices as everyday items can come at a high cost to your privacy. You need to take essential steps to protect yourself, your family and your business from hackers and that is where Sound Computers comes in.
At Sound Computers, we help you increase your home and business IoT security levels to ensure the items do not leak sensitive data. Contact us and let us beef up your IT security.