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The Internet of Things can be hacked too

The prospect and possibilities of the Internet of Things has users across the globe excited at the benefits that completely connected hardware can offer. From smart offices to connected homes, nearly every device can be linked up to the IoT using a sensor and Wi-Fi signal. However, with this excitement also comes worries about security, and as recent reports show, these concerns are not misplaced.

Infiltration of 100,000 devices
According to ReadWrite contributor Selena Larson, cyberattackers have been working to penetrate the IoT network, and have already succeed in hacking into up to 100,000 different devices. Security experts found that infected endpoints included an array of items including routers and smart televisions. Using these platforms, cybercriminals were able to send more than 750,000 malicious emails to unsuspecting users between Dec. 26 and Jan. 6.

The IoT infiltration was first discovered when experts noticed a significant spike in malware-containing messages sent from several different unrecognized IP addresses. Once the investigation began, experts quickly realized that the IP addresses weren't coming from computers or other similar devices, but from items utilizing a standard version of Linux.

Fridge hack
As experts dug deeper into the suspicious activity, they utilized a pinging strategy to try to identify the source of infection. One attempt brought up a login screen displaying the message "Welcome to Your Fridge," signaling that security researchers were dealing with malware on the IoT. One individual attempted to connect with the smart appliance using a default password and successfully gained access to a person's home refrigerator.

Business Insider contributor Julie Bort said the infection was identified as a botnet, and is being recognized as the first attack of this type on the IoT. However, whereas a traditional botnet infects a series of computers and uses them to spread malware, a cyberattack on other connected items means anything connect to the IoT - from thermostats to door locks and beyond - could be used to infect other appliances and endpoints. This represents an entirely new threat within the technology industry.

This particular botnet infection included computers as well, as about 75 percent of malicious emails were sent from these devices. The remaining 25 percent, however, were sent from connected home appliances.

"Hackers didn't have to be amazingly smart when breaking into home appliances," Bort wrote. "Many times they gained access because the home owners didn't set them up correctly, or used the default password that came with the device."

To mitigate the risk of attack, users should be sure to protect their smart appliances with strong authentication measures, including changing default passwords to those that contain a variety of characters. 

Protect data in transit with an SSL certificate today. 

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