The Dangerous State of IoT Security

n September 2015, a nationwide warning was released to the public straight from the FBI headquarters. Acting as a warning of the dangers of IoT devices, this warning was just short of a state of emergency. In an reality where 62% of adults in the US own at least one connected device, IoT is here to stay, but the security measures and susceptibility to attack have hardly improved.

Whether we want to accept it or not, IoT devices are developed for convenience over the needs of security. Universal Plug and Play Protocol, or UPnP, is used when a device connects remotely to a network, a process that is automatic and doesn’t require any authentication. This convenience factor appeals to many individuals who assume their devices are secure, but it couldn’t be further from the truth. With the possibility of of IoT someday connected to every device, security standards from manufacturers and individual users alike are going to have to keep up.

How secure are your IoT devices? Take a look at this infographic for more on the state of IoT security, how smart users are protecting their devices and data, and what you can do to ensure security without sacrificing convenience.

The Dangerous State of IoT Security was originally published in Hacker Noon on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.