With more people using devices connected to the Internet of Things (IoT), there is a concern that smart home devices could be vulnerable to cybercrime. According to technology experts, there is a chance smart homes could be used to commit computer-related crimes.
“Many of these devices were manufactured with low-security standards and in being connected to one router, there are now many more gateways into your smart home network, making it more susceptible to be compromised,” says David Freer, Vice-President, Consumer, Asia Pacific at McAfee.
There are now more than 5.5 million IoT-connected devices in households worldwide, according to the findings of a recent survey from McAfee. What is worrying is the fact that only 42 per cent of consumers follow security measures to secure new gadgets. Of the people surveyed, 47 per cent are uncertain if they have the correct security measures in place to protect their devices, even if they recognise the importance of keeping these safe.
Cybercriminals can access smart home devices for any number of purposes including identify theft and vandalism. Another thing to note is that the IoT is still relatively new and can have numerous vulnerabilities that can be exploited. In many cases, a person won’t know that their smart home devices have been affected until it is too late.
“They can control your entire home, like flicker your lights, access your camera to peer into your life, shut down your devices, and worst of all, capture any personal data sent across the network. These unsettling findings just goes to show that consumers still do not prioritise the security of their devices, despite all the cyber threats that could potentially harm them,” says Freer.
It is important for those using smart home devices to consider putting proper security in place to prevent a cyber attack from happening.
This story first appeared in property-reporty.com
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