It’s getting hard to ignore all the widespread talk about the Internet of Things (IoT). And it’s not a bad thing at all. The faster people get educated about the concepts in this field, the more progress we will be able to see in the next few years. However, it’s important to pay enough attention to specific critical issues within the area, and security is perhaps the most prominent one of all.
Check What Data Is Collected
Before running any device on your network, you should consult its user manual to find out what kind of information it collects and sends over the wire. If there aren’t enough details on this, or if it seems like the manufacturer is trying to obfuscate this aspect, you should look elsewhere. You should be particularly wary of any IoT devices that require you to log into your social media accounts or other places where you might use sensitive information, like your online banking details.
Be Careful with Default Passwords
One of the most commonly reported problems in the world of IoT is the fact that people often neglect to change the default password of the device they’re using. And when it’s connected to the internet and publicly exposed, it takes one random automated scanner to drop by and check if it can get in. Once you’ve been discovered, you’ll have yet another device contributing to major DDoS attacks, and you may not even know that anything is going on.
If a device doesn’t allow you to change your login credentials and relies on hardcoded ones, you should not use it at all. Why? Because it’s a huge security liability, even if you keep it offline and never expose it to the public internet.
Does It Really Need to Be Online?
On that note, you should carefully think about whether you need to connect all of your IoT devices to the internet or not. For some device types, it’s pretty convenient to have them online, or it may be a basic requirement for their functioning, as with a set of internet-enabled security cameras. But for others, it’s best if you keep them isolated from not only the general internet but also your private home networks as well. You never know when a device might go rogue and start probing your computer and other devices for security holes.
When you’d still like the device to be online but want to get an extra layer of protection, you may want to buy VPN for it and keep it isolated to that network, so it doesn’t interfere with anything else.
Be Wary of Cheap Models
The saying “if it looks too good to be true, it probably is” is particularly valid in this field. There are many things to watch out for when developing an IoT device, even a simple one. If a company is willing to part with their hard work for very little money, that’s a huge red flag. This is especially true if the average model for this type of device costs significantly less. Do some proper market research to find out what kind of features a device of this type usually has.
This is a long-term purchase in most cases, so it doesn’t make sense to be cheap with it. Especially when there’s a risk of having your confidential information compromised as a result. Be patient, prepare yourself adequately financially, and know your full range of options.
Watch for Security Reports
It’s not a bad idea to follow some sites that report on security issues in this field as well. There are plenty of those out there. Thus, it doesn’t take a lot of time or effort to keep your eye on reports and be aware of any recently unveiled security holes in whatever devices you might have at home. Many attackers rely on this channel of information themselves, giving you a good reassurance that you will at least be one step ahead of the big crowd. Don’t fall for the trap of thinking that you need to be particularly tech-savvy to understand the content of these discussions either – you’d be surprised how simple they are to follow in most cases.
Other than that, use your common sense and don’t rush into anything without verifying everything about the device you’re planning to buy and deploy. With so much information readily available at your fingertips, you don’t have any excuse for letting a potential security risk into your home.
