Internet of Things - why is this an issue?

[Brigadier]

This week, something on the news about new regulations.

Stronger security (passwords, manufacturer update support obligations, etc) for IoT-enabled stuff.

My question is,

how would [my fridge, as an example] having a weak password have any wider security implications for me?

 

[Odds]

If your fridge doesn't have adequate security protocols then the CIA can hack into the Matrix and find out you've been binge eating pork pies again.

 

[pcaouolte]

If anyone can hack into a single device on your network it can potentially give them access to every other device on your network. A single device with a weak (or no) password potentially gives the hacker access to your bank passwords which you carefully stored in a text file called passwords.txt on your PC because the bank made you pick a complicated password which is difficult to remember.

 

[Brigadier]

If your fridge doesn't have adequate security protocols then the CIA can hack into the Matrix and find out you've been binge eating pork pies again.

Black pudding.

 

[Brigadier]

If anyone can hack into a single device on your network it can potentially give them access to every other device on your network. A single device with a weak (or no) password potentially gives the hacker access to your bank passwords which you carefully stored in a text file called passwords.txt on your PC because the bank made you pick a complicated password which is difficult to remember.

In other words, nothing for most of us to concern ourselves with

 

[pcaouolte]

In other words, nothing for most of us to concern ourselves with

That is usually true. I think that the most popular hack is to watch the stream from any video cameras you might have. Not usually very exciting.

 

[Brigadier]

So, in summary and in idiot-speak. having an unsecured [fridge] but everything else has decent passwords and the like...........


....is like having a garden gate off its hinges, but a deadlocked front door, an alarm system, and a safe for your valuables.

 

[pcaouolte]

....is like having a garden gate off its hinges, but a deadlocked front door, an alarm system, and a safe for your valuables.

and lots of invisible strangers wandering about in your garden looking in every window to see what they can learn about you.

The invisible strangers are also looking for entry points and they have access to a huge list of points that might be insecure. They know that they only need to find one entry point and they can then wander in and out of your home whenever they like, avoiding the alarm sensors, and you will never notice that they have been there...

...until, one day, you discover that one of the strangers has gained enough information to pretend to be you and has borrowed huge sums of money in your name which the lender now wants you to repay.

 

[Brigadier]

No IoT fridge then