Internet of Things – Page 31 – Computer Security Articles

Credit to Author: David Geer| Date: Tue, 28 Mar 2017 03:54:00 -0700

It’s bad enough when black hat hackers insert malicious backdoors into systems and software after vendors/makers have sold these into the marketplace. It is another matter when the vendors who create these devices and programs unwittingly or purposely leave backdoors inside their products.

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(Insider Story)

March 14, 2017 admin

Mirai is the hydra of IoT security: Too many heads to cut off

Credit to Author: Michael Kan| Date: Tue, 14 Mar 2017 04:05:00 -0700

Efforts to stop Mirai, a malware found infecting thousands of IoT devices, have become a game of whack-a-mole, with differing opinions over whether hackers or the security community are making any headway.

The malicious code became publicly available in late September. Since then, it’s been blamed for enslaving IoT devices such as DVRs and internet cameras to launch massive distributed denial-of-service attacks, one of which disrupted internet access across the U.S. in October.

The good news: Last month, police arrested one suspected hacker who may have been behind several Mirai-related DDoS attacks.

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ComputerWorld Independent

March 13, 2017 admin

Of course your TV’s spying on you

Credit to Author: Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols| Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2017 10:22:00 -0700

Julian Assange, Wikileaks’ founder and Russian propagandist, must be proud of himself. In his latest “revelation” that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) can hack Apple and Android smartphones, PC operating systems and smart TVs, he has people throwing fits about how awful the CIA is.

Please. Give me a break.

Wikileaks uncovered nothing really new. Zero. Zilch.

As my fellow Computerworld writer buddy Mike Elgin said, “The Wikileaks/CIA stories simply remind us anything with a camera, microphone or IP address could theoretically be hacked.”

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ComputerWorld Independent

March 8, 2017 admin

Senator probes into CloudPets smart toy hack

Credit to Author: John Ribeiro| Date: Wed, 08 Mar 2017 04:40:00 -0800

A U.S. senator is seeking answers about a data breach involving smart toys made by Spiral Toys, writing a letter to the company’s CEO asking about the company’s security practices.

Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat, wrote in a letter Tuesday to CEO Mark Meyers that the breach raises serious questions concerning how well the company protects the information it collects, particularly from children.

Nelson also said that the incident raises questions about the vendor’s compliance with the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act, which requires covered companies to have reasonable procedures to protect the confidentiality, security and integrity of personal information collected from children.

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ComputerWorld Independent

March 6, 2017 admin

Consumers are wary of smart homes that know too much

Credit to Author: Stephen Lawson| Date: Mon, 06 Mar 2017 18:10:00 -0800

Nearly two-thirds of consumers are worried about home IoT devices listening in on their conversations, according to a Gartner survey released Monday.

Those jitters aren’t too surprising after recent news items about TV announcers inadvertently activating viewers’ Amazon Echos, or about data from digital assistants being used as evidence in criminal trials. But privacy concerns are just one hurdle smart homes still have to overcome, according to the survey.

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ComputerWorld Independent

March 6, 2017 admin

Consumer Reports to grade tech products on security, privacy

Credit to Author: Michael Kan| Date: Mon, 06 Mar 2017 14:01:00 -0800

Consumer Reports, a major source for gadget and appliance reviews in the U.S., plans to start rating products on data security and privacy.

On Monday, the nonprofit publication unveiled a set of new testing standards it hopes will push the tech industry to create safer products.

“The goal is to help consumers understand which digital products do the most to protect their privacy and security, and give them the most control over their personal data,” the publication said.

Already, cybersecurity experts are finding new tech products, whether they are cars or smart teddy bears, that are often poorly secured and easy to hack.

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Security Wired

March 4, 2017 admin

Security News This Week: An IoT Teddy Bear Leaked Millions of Parent and Child Voice Recordings

Credit to Author: Wired Staff| Date: Sat, 04 Mar 2017 12:00:36 +0000

Each weekend we round up the news stories that we didn’t break or cover in depth but that still deserve your attention. The post Security News This Week: An IoT Teddy Bear Leaked Millions of Parent and Child Voice Recordings appeared first on WIRED.