Smart Home Devices

Smart home devices are internet-connected devices and appliances like thermostats, security cameras, smart locks, lights, and perhaps even your washing machine that make our homes more efficient, comfortable, and sometimes even more secure. These devices are controlled via apps, voice commands, or automated systems, offering unprecedented convenience.

However, the convenience they bring also comes with risks. Because these devices connect to the internet, they are vulnerable if not properly secured. When hacked, intruders can access your personal information, spy on your daily activities, and even control the physical devices inside your home.

Secure Smart Home Devices

Securing smart home devices isn’t just about protecting the gadgets themselves; it’s about safeguarding your entire household. Cyber attackers often look for the weakest devices they can find and start there.

Once compromised, a cyber attacker can use a hacked device to access other devices on your home network, steal sensitive data, or even unlock your doors. In an interconnected world, securing your smart devices is crucial to maintaining your personal safety, privacy, and peace of mind.

Five Things You Can Do to Secure Your Smart Home Devices

Change Those Default Passwords Immediately: Many smart devices come with default, factory-set passwords that are well known or easy for cyber criminals to guess. Change them to strong, unique passwords right away, and make use of a password manager to keep track of them.
Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) — Because One is No Longer Enough: Some smart home devices require you to create an online account to access and manage your device. Protect these accounts with MFA, which adds an extra layer of security by requiring both a password and a unique one-time code sent to your phone. Cyber criminals hate MFA because it makes their job so much harder.
Give Your Smart Devices Their Own Wi-Fi Network: Create a dedicated network for your smart devices, separate from your personal or work devices. On many Wi-Fi access points or routers, this is often called a Guest network. This helps isolate the devices and limits the damage if one device gets compromised.
Update, Update, Update: Manufacturers regularly release updates to fix security vulnerabilities. Ensure your devices have the latest firmware and software updates to stay protected from emerging threats. The simplest way to do this is to enable automatic updating on your devices. Strongly consider replacing any device that is no longer supported or receiving security updates from its manufacturer.
Disable Unused Features: Smart devices often come with a variety of features, many of which you may never use. The more features you have active, the more doors cyber criminals have to sneak in. Disable any unnecessary services, like remote access or voice commands, to minimize the entry points a cyber criminal could exploit.

Source: https://www.sans.org/newsletters/ouch/smart-home-devices-lock-them-down-before-cyber-criminals-do/

— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — —

Smart Home Security News:

Rising IoT Vulnerabilities Highlight Security Gaps in Smart Homes

A recent report analyzing 3.8 million homes and 50 million IoT devices revealed alarming trends in smart home security, with more than 9.1 billion security events occurring over the past year. As the average household now hosts 21 connected devices that face over 10 attacks daily, vulnerabilities were predominantly found in TVs, smart plugs, and digital video recorders (DVRs).

Notably, TVs are particularly prone to security issues due to their long lifespan and lack of manufacturer support, while smart plugs and DVRs also exhibit concerning vulnerability levels that pose risks in both residential and commercial settings. The report underscores a pressing need for manufacturers to enhance security measures in device design and production, especially as 78.3% of users engage in sensitive transactions via mobile devices, yet 44.5% lack adequate mobile security solutions.

117,000 Ring users private video feeds were accessed without consent

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has announced it will distribute $5.6 million in refunds to approximately 117,000 Ring users whose private video feeds were accessed without consent or who experienced account hacks due to inadequate security measures. This action follows a May 2023 complaint alleging that Ring, an Amazon subsidiary known for its smart home security products, failed to implement essential protections, including multi-factor authentication, prior to 2019. The FTC stated that Ring allowed unrestricted access to its employees and third-party contractors, leading to unauthorized access to user devices and private video footage.

91,000 Smart Lg Tv Devices Vulnerable To Remote Takeover

Cybersecurity researchers from Bitdefender discovered critical vulnerabilities in LG TVs running webOS versions 4 through 7, which could allow attackers to gain complete control over the TV, steal data, or install malware.

Critical Vulnerabilities in Contiki-NG Impacting Smart Home Security

Researchers have uncovered three significant vulnerabilities in Contiki-NG, an open-source operating system widely used in Internet of Things (IoT) devices, including smart home security systems. These vulnerabilities, which affect versions up to 4.9, can lead to device crashes or the execution of malicious code.

The vulnerabilities include two out-of-bounds read issues in the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) that could expose sensitive information, and an unaligned memory access issue in the Routing Protocol for Low-Power and Lossy Networks (RPL) that could cause system instability. While the SNMP module is disabled by default, developers who enable it are advised to update their systems immediately.

MediaTek Vulnerabilities Raise Concerns for Smart Home Security

MediaTek has released a Product Security Bulletin detailing critical vulnerabilities in its chipsets, which power a range of devices including smartphones, tablets, and IoT devices commonly used in smart homes. The bulletin highlights several high-severity vulnerabilities, such as out-of-bounds writes in the vdec component and wlan driver, which could allow remote code execution and local privilege escalation without user interaction. These issues pose significant risks, especially for smart home devices connected to public networks, as they could enable attackers to access sensitive data or compromise entire systems.

100 Vulnerabilities related to Nortek’s Linear eMerge access control systems

After nearly five years since their initial disclosure, vulnerabilities affecting Linear building access control products have been patched, following extensive exploitations in the wild. Researcher Gjoko Krstic first revealed over 100 vulnerabilities related to Nortek’s Linear eMerge access control systems at a cybersecurity conference in May 2019.

Despite the urgent nature of these findings, Nortek was slow to respond, leading to the exploitation of one critical flaw, CVE-2019–7256, which was actively targeted in cyberattacks as early as February 2020. It wasn’t until 2023, after Nortek was acquired by Nice, that the vulnerabilities gained significant attention. In May 2023, Nice acknowledged a compromise affecting some Linear intercom products and urged customers to enhance their network security. By March 2024, CISA confirmed the presence of multiple Linear vulnerabilities, including the previously exploited CVE-2019–7256, advising that firmware updates had been made available.

Ensuring IoT Security: A Collective Responsibility in a Connected World

The Internet of Things (IoT) has emerged as one of the most versatile technologies, significantly impacting industries such as healthcare, finance, and energy, while also facilitating the creation of smart homes and cities. However, with this proliferation of connected devices comes an increase in security vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit.

IoT hacking poses unique challenges, threatening the services that underpin our daily lives and economies, as these devices can serve as attack vectors for botnets and ransomware. Many IoT devices lack built-in security features, making them susceptible to malware and unauthorized access, often due to factors like unpatched operating systems and weak passwords. Even seemingly benign devices can be targeted, affecting core functionalities necessary for operational continuity.

Protecting Smart Home Security from Mirai Malware Attacks

In an era where smart home devices have become increasingly prevalent, understanding their security vulnerabilities is paramount, especially given the persistent threat posed by malware like Mirai. This notorious strain exploits weak credentials in IoT devices such as smart speakers and cameras, transforming them into a botnet for launching large-scale Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks.

The exploration of DShield honeypot activity revealed multiple attempts to upload Mirai, highlighting the necessity for strong, unique passwords, restricted remote access, and regular updates to firmware. As we integrate technology more deeply into our daily lives, the importance of safeguarding smart home systems against evolving threats cannot be overstated, impacting not only personal privacy but also broader corporate and national security.