Dirty devices drag down smart home security

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Dirty devices drag down smart home security

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An online survey of more than 10,000 respondents conducted by Palo Alto Networks and YouGov uncovered mixed views on the perceived security of Internet of Things (IoT) technologies, such as smart home devices and wearables: 38% of EMEA respondents believe them to be secure, with a similar number (43%) thinking the opposite.
So, are smart home devices creating security weaknesses for criminals to exploit?
Jonathan Knudsen, a senior security strategist at Synopsys, agrees: “Any device you add to your home network comes with its own security vulnerabilities,” he says.
“Today’s world of connected devices is full of opportunities, but poor security practices risk undermining its success,” says Manfred Kube, the head of communications, analytics and IoT solutions at Gemalto.
As more and more smart home devices get connected to the internet, the weak links exposing them to security vulnerabilities are also likely to increase.
Timo Laaksonen, the vice president of operator sales for North America, at F-Secure, concurs: “New weaknesses introduced by smart home devices range from open communication ports and use of insecure protocols to hardcoded passwords and outdated, insecure software platforms,” he says.
We need a change in the design process of smart home devices: Security – and privacy, for that matter – has to be considered a crucial design factor and functional requirement from the get go.”
It’s easy to point the finger at domestic Wi-Fi network security weaknesses but these are far from the only weak point smart home devices encounter.
“Wi-Fi based internet connection is the obvious weak spot in many home security products,” acknowledges Kube.
Cellular IoT connections are certainly not the only way to ensure a secure smart home network.
Routers that have built-in home protection can be used to block malicious websites and more importantly, connections, as well as protect your network from becoming an automated botnet should your device become vulnerable

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