Understanding IoT Security Risks and How to Mitigate Them

In today’s interconnected world, the Internet of Things (IoT) promises convenience and innovation. From smart fridges that tell you when you’re out of milk to connected light bulbs that adjust to your mood, the future seems to be right at our fingertips. What happens when these devices, designed to make life easier, become the stuff of nightmares?

Scary situations like unknown entities watching your every move through home security cameras, or even the police accusing you of criminal activity due to cybercriminals using your devices’ bandwidth isn’t just the stuff of horror films – it happens in real life.

Every day, more objects around us become “smart”. However, with this intelligence comes vulnerability. Many IoT devices are shipped with default passwords, open ports, and outdated firmware. These oversights can turn smart devices into pathways for cyber intruders.

By the end of 2023, the number of active IoT devices is predicted to reach over 16 billion. This massive number of devices, of which 77% are estimated to use default passwords, offers attackers a huge network of targets. If these devices aren’t updated regularly, they can be vulnerable to critical vulnerabilities with the potential to cause considerable damage.

IoT devices are also vulnerable to things like Man in the Middle attacks, where attackers leverage connections to eavesdrop on traffic and steal personal or financial information. In addition, vulnerabilities like code injection to access database information is also common. IoT devices are especially vulnerable to malware that is capable of adding the devices to botnets. This is a common risk due to devices’ lack of security and the sheer number of unprotected connected devices in the market. Imperva frequently blocks IoT-related DDoS attacks, such as an attack that came from 402,000 unique IPs – primarily IoT devices – infected by Mirai malware.

How to Mitigate IoT Security Risks:

Change default passwords. Many IoT devices come with passwords like “default” or “admin” that attackers can exploit to gain access. Change these passwords immediately to something both unique and strong.
Update firmware regularly, and turn on automatic updates. It’s easy to forget or ignore IoT updates, but these are an important step to protect your devices against vulnerabilities.
Use secure networks. Make sure your WiFi has a strong, unique password. Avoid connecting your device(s) to unfamiliar, untrusted networks.
Consider permissions. Does a smart speaker really need access to your contacts? Review and limit what smart devices can access. The best rule of thumb is: keep it to a bare minimum.
Protect your devices. Use network security devices, like firewalls, to prevent your devices from attack and block access to hidden protocols.