Household spaces are getting smarter. Welcome to the generation of Smart Homes powered by the Internet of Things.
The ability to control electronic devices with a clap of your hands or your voice is no longer a far-fetched dream. Getting devices and gadgets to obey your verbal commands is no longer a scene from a sci-fi movie but a reality now!
IoT-enabled Smart Spaces
The Internet of Things (IoT) has made a rapid progression into our household space. In fact, IoT-enabled household devices such as televisions, refrigerators, CCTV cameras, door locks and stereo systems are fast becoming more of a common occurrence than an exotic addition to a technology-obsessed household!
How Secure are ‘Smart Homes’ Powered by the Internet of Things?
A smart home is vulnerable to hackers in more ways than one and can result in damages graver than you could ever imagine.
We hereby present not an exhaustive but a concise picture of how your smart home is vulnerable to hacking?
1. CCTV Cameras
IoT-based surveillance and security systems are every household’s choice at present. After all, it offers homeowners to remotely manage them once they are connected to the internet.
Potential Risks:
Once hackers have access to the security systems, they can take control of your entire house and disable any system they want to. So think twice before sealing the deal for that smart security system you have been planning to install.
2. Smart Door Locks
Security systems based on IoT can automatically lock entryways and windows, and come with surveillance cameras and alarms, all of which can strengthen the security of your house in your absence too.
Potential Risks:
The flip side of the coin is that if cyber conmen do manage to hack these internet-based security systems of your smart home, it would be a cakewalk for them to know when you’re not home. This could endanger your property, money, identity and personal security.
3. Security Gadgets & Motion Sensors
IoT-based Smart Home gadgets such as Smart Doorbells sends a notification to the connected smartphone whenever a motion is detected or you have a visitor at the door. It also enables a direct communication with visitors whether one is at home or away.
Potential Risks:
If a Home Monitoring system comprising smart locks and motions sensors are hacked, it can enable an individual to break into the house without using any apparent force. A researcher analyzing the security vulnerabilities of a smart home found that once he could hack the system, he was not only able to open the door lock but also jam the motion sensor. Plus, there was no trace left whatsoever in the system!
4. Smart TV
The Internet of Things and its penetration into our daily routine has made it possible for humans to command gadgets into doing things for them. While it would be a dream come true to own a Smart TV that allows you to operate your television with your verbal commands, the cons reveal some bone-chilling facts!
Potential Risks:
Smart TV’s consist of in-built cameras and microphones to facilitate face and voice recognition. And once a smart TV is hacked, you stand the chance of having your TV record videos and audios without your knowledge or consent!
These audios or videos could then be posted on inappropriate sites and/or be used to steal your identity or blackmail you or your family members!
Guess we spoilt your plans of purchasing one?
Well, make sure you do your background research before purchasing and have adequate security measures in place before you start using your Smart TV.
5. Car
So you are wondering what could possibly go wrong with a car. Well, it is quite common to have computer systems in modern cars that help automate certain crucial systems of a car such as a cruise control system, brakes, and horsepower.
Potential Risks:
Cyber criminals can hack a smart car’s computer system through facilities such as streaming radio, navigation or web browsing that are connected to the internet. A number of events can result from this.
Your car brakes could fail, the navigation system can go haywire, the car’s display can start behaving in a bizarre way and I guess this should be sufficient to shake you up!!
In fact, these shocking acts have been displayed by Security Researcher at Twitter, Charlie Miller, and Director of Security Intelligence at IOActive, Chris Valasek with a Forbes reporter behind the wheels inside a smart car!
6. Smart Refrigerator
A weekly visit to the grocery store has anyways now been replaced by online supermarkets. One click and you can now have everything delivered to your doorstep.
Smart refrigerators, however, have taken this experience one step further!
Such refrigerators can keep tab of the items inside your refrigerator to alert you in case something needs to be refilled. Additionally, it provides you an option to buy groceries online using its inbuilt smart LCD panel. You can save your menus and have your smart refrigerator keep track of inventories while you breathe easy about your groceries.
Potential Risks:
So how is your smart refrigerator which stands proudly inside your smart home vulnerable to hackers? If it is hacked by cyber criminals, they can access the login information of your online grocery shop and place unwanted orders on your behalf!
So if own a smart refrigerator and find yourself paying for groceries you never ordered, you know what’s happening behind the scenes!
Strengthening Cyber Security with Incognito Forensic Foundation (IFF Lab)
Yes, it would be technologically empowering to upgrade your home to a smart home which provides you all controls at your fingertips or rather at the tip of your tongue. However, the cyber security concerns of a smart home should be borne in mind before putting that coveted smart TV on your to-do list.
A smart home has several such loopholes which makes them vulnerable to hackers in several ways which require your awareness and attention.
Incognito Forensic Foundation (IFF Lab) is a private forensic lab that is headquartered in Bangalore and has a pan-Indian presence. It has a repertoire of cyber and digital forensic experts handpicked from the premier forensic institutes of the country and a state-of-the-art digital forensics lab.
IFF Lab has all the tools, technologies and knowledge required to not only investigate cases of cyber crimes and online frauds but also provide consultation on cyber crime vulnerabilities. Get in touch with IFF Lab to assess your personal or your organization’s cyber security level and incident response preparedness.
IFF Lab provides services and solutions for Cyber Security Analysis and Assessment, and for Data Protection and Information Security that enables corporates and public enterprises strengthen their cyber security and cyber crime response mechanism to mitigate cyber attacks and minimize the damages caused by them.
