As we become more dependent on connected technology to run our homes and businesses, cybersecurity is now the top concern for a lot of users. The threats IoT devices face differ from the ones faced by traditional computers and require a completely new set of tools to defend themselves.
It’s not surprising that the number of malware attacks on IoT devices are increasing. Each device type has its own operating system, software, and functionality. The absence of standardized software can pose issues when trying to develop security tools that work on different devices.
In 2016, threat actors created one of the biggest botnets in history by using a simple hack on IoT devices. The attack weakened parts of the Internet, and made websites such as The New York Times’s website, Brian Krebs’s site, and French web host OVH unavailable for hours. The attackers looked through the Internet to find default usernames and passwords for IoT devices. They then gathered a horde of IoT users to launch DDoS attacks.
IoT and antiviruses play a important role in securing against these kinds of threats. This type of security software must be more vigilant to observe how IoT devices communicate with each other as well as with the outside world. It should also be able to maintain secure password practices, two-factor authentication, and keep up-to-date patching. These measures, when combined with other security tools to guard against IoT threats, are a powerful defense.
