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This is interesting. The Oregon, Portland FBI branch’s Tech Tuesday segment has talked of various ways in building a defense against the exploitation of smart devices.
Keeping in mind the festive season and the fact that people will be buying IoT devices, here are some tips it offers:
- Change default usernames and passwords. Many default passwords are collected and posted on the Internet. Do not use common words and simple phrases or passwords containing easily obtainable personal information, such as important dates or names of children or pets.
- If you can’t change the password on the device, make sure your wireless Internet service has a strong password and encryption.
- Invest in a secure router with robust security and authentication. Most routers will allow users to whitelist, or specify, which devices are authorised to connect to a local network.
Isolate “IoT” devices on their own protected networks. - Turn devices off when not in use.
- Research your options when shopping for new “IoT” devices. When conducting research, use reputable Websites that specialise in cyber security analysis and provide reviews on consumer products.
- Look for companies that offer firmware and software updates, and identify how and when these updates are provided.
- Identify what data is collected and stored by the devices, including whether you can opt out of this collection, how long the data is stored, whether it is encrypted, and if the data is shared with a third party.
- Ensure all “IoT” devices are up to date and security patches are incorporated when available.
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