Recently, two American internet service providers suffered a network attack, causing many well-known websites to be inaccessible, claiming that half of America’s internet was paralyzed. Subsequent investigations revealed that hackers exploited viruses to infect IoT devices, which were then used to launch network attacks.
Internet security experts stated that the number of infected IoT devices was in the tens of thousands, including network cameras. The main reason is that these internet-connected devices have numerous vulnerabilities, some of which are common system vulnerabilities that can easily be controlled and turned into “accomplices” for attacking the internet.
“Current IoT devices are basically ‘running naked’.” Lu Yizhou, founding partner of Yongzhou Venture Capital, candidly told reporters.
He gave an example of a manufacturer that installed sound collection equipment in an air conditioner to detect noise and improve the product. These devices could report the decibel levels of many air conditioners. However, this equipment was quickly found to have vulnerabilities by external security experts, and with a little trick, it could be turned into a “listening device”. When every air conditioner could potentially become a listening device, just think about how terrifying that is?
This is not just a single instance of alarmism. Xiao Xinguang, chief technical architect of Antiy Labs, also told reporters that many households now have purchased robotic vacuum cleaners, which have microphones, cameras, and other devices that need to connect to the internet, effectively making them potential surveillance devices. Once attacked, household privacy would be exposed.
As for the smart sockets that many people are currently using, they also pose potential security risks. Experts indicate that current smart sockets have numerous security vulnerabilities. If hacked, they could cause users to experience power outages or even overload and catch fire, becoming a “weapon” for arson.
As for the now-popular new energy vehicle Tesla, despite having a strong security team, it has still been breached. One can imagine how terrifying it would be if hackers could remotely control a smart car.
“The vulnerabilities of PCs and mobile devices may only lead to financial loss. However, the vulnerabilities of IoT devices could actually be life-threatening,” Lu Yizhou told reporters. “But currently, many companies transitioning to IoT are mostly white goods manufacturers. Their security capabilities are severely lacking, and their inherent thinking pursues hardware standardization, which hackers love.”
In this regard, Zhang Yaojiang, founder of Anzai and a network security expert, told reporters that current IoT device manufacturers rarely truly focus on and implement security controls, and IoT device users generally lack security awareness, making the security situation bleak.
So, as consumers, how should we respond to these potentially “naked” smart devices? Many industry insiders told reporters that there is not much consumers can do regarding IoT security. Xiao Xinguang told reporters, “Unlike computers and mobile devices, which have mature security measures like downloading antivirus software, smart hardware cannot form interactions.”
Therefore, IoT device manufacturers are “duty-bound” to address these potential security issues. Many security experts suggest that it is necessary to clarify the security responsibilities of smart hardware manufacturers through rule changes and legal provisions, especially regarding reasonable data collection, lawful use, and proper storage of privacy. This is also an effective way to push manufacturers to invest in security costs and prevent potential associated risks.
Source: Economic Reference News
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