How a Hacked Lightbulb Could Leak Your Banking Password
If the device, application or appliance that you are using has coded software and connects to a wireless network, then it can be hacked. That is the world that we live in. This isn’t to scare anyone, but to keep consumers vigilant.
While you might think that a connected lightbulb getting hacked isn’t that big of a deal (what, is the hacker just going to turn off the light from afar?) you need to be careful. A hacked lightbulb is a gateway into much more personal and important information, like personal finances and other network devices. It’s not always about hackers having access to information, but it’s about giving hackers control. Think about what could happen if a hacker gets in through a connected kitchen appliance, but ends up being able to take control of a medical device like a smart insulin pump or heart monitor? The results could be much worse than losing financial information, they could be fatal.
Ways to act against these attacks as a consumer:
- Make sure to buy products with high security ratings
- Always update your software when prompted
- Turn off the connected capabilities for items that do not absolutely need it or are not currently in use
Ways to act against these attacks as a company:
- Consider whether saving on security costs is worth the risk
- Make sure apps are difficult to reverse engineer (since this is a way a hacker can get in)
- Make sure it is difficult for hackers to use hacking tools to crack into the app security (if an app detects a tool it can automatically stop running to prevent them from using the tool)
We use items every day with a lot of code and automation. The number of connected items that we use is expected to continue to grow exponentially. This means that risk of cyberattacks will also continue to increase. It’s just the way that it is. If there is code, then the item is hackable, it all depends on time and hacker motivation.
In our connected technology world, it is important to be prepared with good cybersecurity and to find a network management tool that offers security on all fronts: network security, cloud security, router security, connected IoT device security, endpoint protection and more.
OptimTM Managed Wi-Fi solution is available through reputable Service Providers. You can learn more about home networking and Wi-Fi security with Actiontec’s Complete Guide to WiFi Networking. For the latest news in technology, check out Actiontec’s blog.