5 IoT threats to be aware of
The Internet of Things, or IoT for short, has become extremely popular in almost all households in a concise amount of time. There was still a turnover of 100 trillion dollars in 2017, it is expected to be an explosive increase in the coming years. This is expected to reach a whopping $1600 trillion by 2025. Although the increase in IoT devices also leads to technological developments, there are also dangers lurking. In this article, we’re going to look at how you can mitigate these dangers.
This technology can be helpful in almost every way; perhaps the main feature is data monitoring and control. In addition, it is easy to access the required information in real-time from anywhere around the world. If IoT technology is built into the devices you use, you save a lot of time that you used to spend on tedious work, and you can use this time to enjoy online gambling games. Of course, saving time also means saving expenses. This technology also has comprehensive security and data breach protection. However, there are some safety and security risks associated with the use of Internet of Things technology. In this article, we will cover them and provide you with ways to reduce these risks.
The manufacturer of the device
Starting with the manufacturer where you buy the device. Because it is a product that is becoming increasingly popular with consumers, more and more producers also try to offer these products to make a profit. This starts with smaller and smaller companies, who have not had much to say about device security.
Large companies such as Google, Amazon, Philips and Apple spend millions of euros every year getting and keeping the devices they put on the market safely. With these manufacturers, the chance of a security breach is much smaller. However, smaller companies often attach much less value to the protection simply due to the insufficient budget.
To prevent your IoT devices from being hacked, we always recommend that you choose products from a recognized producer. This way, you can be sure that sufficient safety measures have been taken.
Data Storage and Transfer
Since most IoT devices rely on cloud storage and transportation, the interconnection between smart devices and the Internet is the backbone. However, the more data is transmitted (sent/received) and stored, the more likely there is a security breach or data leakage. Unfortunately, this possibility cannot be eliminated with a click of a button as this is due to a lack of encryption and low access controls in the IoT ecosystem. For this reason, it is very important to secure your internet connection and data storage via powerful network security management tools such as robust firewalls and antivirus software.
Buying a VPN Service
We also recommend installing a VPN on your router. The NordVPN customers’ feedback in recent years has been very positive. By installing this on your router, all devices that are connected to your router are secured. This greatly reduces the chance that your devices will be hacked or that a hacker will gain access to your personal documents.
If you use a VPN, your IP address and physical location will be connected. When activating a VPN, a connection is made to one of the servers of your VPN provider so that your personal IP address is hidden. As a result, hackers do not know where you are, and all data you exchange with the server is encrypted.
Updating Devices
The update all your devices is also very important. By updating your devices, you can ensure that they have the most recent security measures. If you forget to update a device and there is a security update, hackers can use so-called ‘reversed engineering’.
In that case, they will review the security update hat has been implemented and try to use the security vulnerability in the previous version to gain access to your devices. So if you forget to update, hackers can use the security hole can on your device.
Learning About the Dangers of IoT
Finally, it is still essential to stay up-to-date about the dangers of IoT and the devices you purchase. You can do this, for example, by looking online at the latest dangers, but also by introducing your children to the dangers of the web, for example. With a few small tips, they too can prevent a large part of the dangers. Think of:
– Protect your devices with complex passwords.
– Do not share photos or documents with strangers.
– Do not click on links in emails which is sent from unknown parties.
– Shut down a device when you don’t use it.
Conclusion
In short, there are more than enough measures that you can take yourself to increase the security of your devices. Install a VPN on your router if you want to provide all your connected devices with increased security at once. In addition, stay informed of the most recent dangers, update your devices and only buy products from recognised suppliers.