Internet of Things

ComputerWorldIndependent

How to deal with backdoors inserted or left by vendors

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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ComputerWorldIndependent

Look before you leap: 4 hard truths about IoT

Credit to Author: Stephen Lawson| Date: Thu, 23 Mar 2017 05:21:00 -0700

Most technologies go through a stage when everything seems possible. Personal computers in the early 1980s, the internet in the late 1990s and mobile apps around the beginning of this decade were like that.

But so was the first unboxing of a Galaxy Note 7. In time, either suddenly or gradually, reality sets in.

The internet of things still looks promising, with vendors and analysts forecasting billions of connected devices that will solve all sorts of problems in homes and enterprises. But the seams are starting to show on this one, too. As promising as the technology is, it has some shortcomings. Here are a few.

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ComputerWorldIndependent

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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ComputerWorldIndependent

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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ComputerWorldIndependent

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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ComputerWorldIndependent

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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ComputerWorldIndependent

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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