Craziest IoT Hacks of All Time by Tina Anderson Lyrics
Technology has literally hijacked our lives from every aspect. We have become so dependent upon it that we require assistance from it in even the most basic of daily activities. This is all thanks to the revolution brought in our lives by the Internet of Things (IoT).
IoT basically means when devices are able to communicate with other devices through the internet without the need for human interaction. There are many devices in our homes alone that function on this very principle.
Apart from the benefits that these devices bring into our lives, there are some significant drawbacks to them as well. Here we will discuss some of the ways that devices are being used and how they can be used to infiltrate your privacy.
Baby Monitor Hack
Baby monitors are probably the most common device used in any home with an infant. They provide great convenience for you when you are away from your child but you still need to be aware of their situation.
A family from Texas had to face a serious horror relating to the baby monitor in late 2018. Apparently, a hacker infiltrated the baby monitor and threatened to kidnap him. This is something that cannot be taken lightly. You have to be cautious of the devices that you keep in your homes and take all the security precautions possible.
Possibility for Being Spied On
Security cameras are installed in almost every household in the country. In addition to allowing you to keep an eye on your house while you are not there, they are also subject to some serious vulnerabilities.
In 2019, CNN was able to get into various security cameras using a search engine for IoT devices, Shodan. Different scenes were visible through the feeds accessed, such as a family in Australia going on with their daily life inside their house, a woman in Japan interacting with her cat, and much more.
With such resources easily available freely to the public, who knows what threats there are out there just waiting for the right moment?
Vulnerable Medical Devices
The medical field tries to make the most of the advancements in the world of IoT. There are several connected devices that are used to take care of patients and monitor their overall health in daily routine.
In 2017 though, the FDA pointed out that the medical implant provided by St. Jude Medical can be conveniently hacked. These devices are designed to control the heart functions of many patients. However, it also creates a potential for hackers out there who are just waiting for an opportunity to do significant damage like draining the battery, altering the pace of the device, or even sending electric shocks to the person. A major life-saving device such as this can easily be turned into a life-taking device.
You May Have an Unknown Backseat Driver
A team of scientists once took over control of an SUV by taking advantage of the firmware vulnerability. They were able to make the SUV do all sorts of functions such as speeding up, slowing down, or even run it off a cliff.
Just imagine if it were your car and it was a group of hackers instead of some researchers. The threat level would be seriously increased. Electronic cars have almost made the non-electric cars go extinct. However, they only add to the level of insecurity while convincing you that you have more luxury.
Fax Machines Are No More Safe
A pair of researchers at Check Point, Eyal Itkin and Yaniv Balmas, pointed out that fax machines are not safe anymore either. Hackers can easily get hold of your data using your fax number and phone line alone while it is being transmitted.
They can easily send out viruses through the connected fax machine that has the potential to affect the whole connected network. Hence, you should subscribe to an internet provider service with fool-proof network security protocols such as Spectrum Internet
as they have one of the most bulletproof network security protocols there are.
Your Smart TV Can be Tracked too
Spending time on the internet and TV watching your favorite TV shows and movies are the most common pastime for most of us. Smart TVs have only added to the time spent in front of screens. Instead of just watching television like an amateur, you can utilize all sorts of features that come with a smart TV.
However, once again, this device also has some serious potential threats. Hackers can easily control your smart TVs since they are connected to the internet, and can do more than just change your channel or alter the volume level.
They can easily spy on you using the camera and microphone that are built right into it. Instead of just you just watching your TV, the TV is watching you as well – something that you should take into account.
What Can You Do?
The need for internet-connected devices has grown significantly. While you cannot abandon them completely, you can make sure that you only add those devices to your collection that you genuinely need. Don't just go for a device because it looks fancy.
IoT basically means when devices are able to communicate with other devices through the internet without the need for human interaction. There are many devices in our homes alone that function on this very principle.
Apart from the benefits that these devices bring into our lives, there are some significant drawbacks to them as well. Here we will discuss some of the ways that devices are being used and how they can be used to infiltrate your privacy.
Baby Monitor Hack
Baby monitors are probably the most common device used in any home with an infant. They provide great convenience for you when you are away from your child but you still need to be aware of their situation.
A family from Texas had to face a serious horror relating to the baby monitor in late 2018. Apparently, a hacker infiltrated the baby monitor and threatened to kidnap him. This is something that cannot be taken lightly. You have to be cautious of the devices that you keep in your homes and take all the security precautions possible.
Possibility for Being Spied On
Security cameras are installed in almost every household in the country. In addition to allowing you to keep an eye on your house while you are not there, they are also subject to some serious vulnerabilities.
In 2019, CNN was able to get into various security cameras using a search engine for IoT devices, Shodan. Different scenes were visible through the feeds accessed, such as a family in Australia going on with their daily life inside their house, a woman in Japan interacting with her cat, and much more.
With such resources easily available freely to the public, who knows what threats there are out there just waiting for the right moment?
Vulnerable Medical Devices
The medical field tries to make the most of the advancements in the world of IoT. There are several connected devices that are used to take care of patients and monitor their overall health in daily routine.
In 2017 though, the FDA pointed out that the medical implant provided by St. Jude Medical can be conveniently hacked. These devices are designed to control the heart functions of many patients. However, it also creates a potential for hackers out there who are just waiting for an opportunity to do significant damage like draining the battery, altering the pace of the device, or even sending electric shocks to the person. A major life-saving device such as this can easily be turned into a life-taking device.
You May Have an Unknown Backseat Driver
A team of scientists once took over control of an SUV by taking advantage of the firmware vulnerability. They were able to make the SUV do all sorts of functions such as speeding up, slowing down, or even run it off a cliff.
Just imagine if it were your car and it was a group of hackers instead of some researchers. The threat level would be seriously increased. Electronic cars have almost made the non-electric cars go extinct. However, they only add to the level of insecurity while convincing you that you have more luxury.
Fax Machines Are No More Safe
A pair of researchers at Check Point, Eyal Itkin and Yaniv Balmas, pointed out that fax machines are not safe anymore either. Hackers can easily get hold of your data using your fax number and phone line alone while it is being transmitted.
They can easily send out viruses through the connected fax machine that has the potential to affect the whole connected network. Hence, you should subscribe to an internet provider service with fool-proof network security protocols such as Spectrum Internet
as they have one of the most bulletproof network security protocols there are.
Your Smart TV Can be Tracked too
Spending time on the internet and TV watching your favorite TV shows and movies are the most common pastime for most of us. Smart TVs have only added to the time spent in front of screens. Instead of just watching television like an amateur, you can utilize all sorts of features that come with a smart TV.
However, once again, this device also has some serious potential threats. Hackers can easily control your smart TVs since they are connected to the internet, and can do more than just change your channel or alter the volume level.
They can easily spy on you using the camera and microphone that are built right into it. Instead of just you just watching your TV, the TV is watching you as well – something that you should take into account.
What Can You Do?
The need for internet-connected devices has grown significantly. While you cannot abandon them completely, you can make sure that you only add those devices to your collection that you genuinely need. Don't just go for a device because it looks fancy.