Originally, we accessed the Internet via desktops. Fast forward a couple of years and we transitioned to mobile devices. Today, the Internet is expanding again. This time, it is touching on everyday devices in our homes, workplaces and cities. This is the Internet of Everything (IoE).
It offers numerous benefits, this IoE. Looking on the other side, however, it spells more opportunities for cybercrime given the avenues of attack just increased. This is why it’s important to know what you need to do to keep your connected devices and valuable data safe from the common threats out there.
The Risks
Denial of Service Attack: This is a common ploy by hackers to prevent or slow down the use of certain networks and/or devices.
Sniffer Attack: A program known as a sniffer is deployed to ‘sniff out’ any unencrypted information that may be traveling through a network with the aim of stealing it.
Password-based Attack: This type of attack tries to guess or steal passwords in order to gain unauthorized entry into a network and/or device connected to a particular network.
Compromised-key attack: This type of attack involves stealing the key to encrypted communication and using it to interpret the encrypted data.
Man-in-the-middle Attack: Cybercriminals, or any other third party for that matter, employ this method to steal data in transit between two devices and/or parties.
Dealing with the Menace
Purchase IoE-enabled products from vendors who regularly issue updates of their firmware.
No system is completely free of vulnerabilities or flaws, but those that are regularly patched are generally more secure.
Enable all security features on your smart devices.
Every smart device comes equipped with its own standard security features and it’s recommended to make use of them.
If you can, research to establish if your smart device encrypts its firmware updates and network communications properly.
A smart device may claim to use encryption, but this may not always be implemented in full, or even properly. Google (or any other search engine) will be your friend here in case you want to know of any possible security issues.
Look into how well the manufacturer manages their device vulnerabilities.
Hackers are always on the lookout for vulnerabilities they can exploit on any device or system. What manufacturers do to resolve these issues will always leave you safe, or exposed to, additional risks.
Secure passwords.
Good password entropy involves mixing length and complexity in good measure. A good password (or paraphrase) is a blend of alphanumeric characters. You should make it a habit of using multiple passwords for different accounts or services, changing your passwords regularly and never reusing either over time or across different devices.
The Internet of Everything welcomes an era of mobility, innovation and convenience. A good number of the smart devices in use today are revolutionary and provide an insight into what the future holds.
With increased connectivity – and ease – however, comes less privacy and more opportunities for cybercriminals to exploit. That’s why it pays to be on top of the risks in order to properly mitigate them.
