As we are increasingly dependent on connected technology to manage our homes and businesses, cybersecurity is the top concern for a lot of users. However, the kind of threat that IoT devices are facing differs from those found on traditional computers, and require a completely new set of tools and strategies to protect against them.
It’s not a surprise that malware attacks on IoT devices are increasing. Each device type has its own operating system, software, and functionality. The absence of standardized software can also present difficulties when creating security tools that work across several devices.
In 2016, hackers used an easy hack on IoT devices to launch one of the most massive botnet attacks in history that caused chaos on the Internet and causing websites like The New York Times, Brian Krebs’s site, and French web host OVH unavailable for hours. The attackers simply scanned the Internet for default usernames and passwords on IoT devices, then assembled an army of them to launch the DDoS attack.
When it comes to protecting against these types of threats, antiviruses and IOT have a significant role to play. However, this kind of security software needs to expand its surveillance capabilities to include a review of the way IoT devices communicate with each other and to the outside world, as well as keeping strong password practices in place two-factor authentication, and up-to date patching. These measures, when used with other security tools to guard against IoT threats, are a powerful defense.