Is anything NOT connected to the Internet anymore?
We all know that robbers break into houses through doors and windows to pilfer money and other belongings. And we all know that cyber thieves steal personal information and even identities by infiltrating computers. But did you know that a hacker might be able to get at you through your refrigerator? And no, I’m not talking about the little guy who turns the light on and off inside your fridge when you open and close it.
Increasingly, modern appliances such as stainless steel refrigerators and big screen TVs are connected to the Internet. That means there are new paths for hackers to use to enter your home and steal your identity, take your bank and credit card information, and rob you blind.
In one cyber attack that took place in late 2013 and early 2014, hackers broke into 100,000 consumer gadgets including a refrigerator, televisions, wireless speakers and media centers. They used those appliances to release some 750,000 malicious emails.
The single biggest problem here is that the technology that has allowed various electronic devices to communicate with each other inside your house has grown faster than the security measures that are needed to protect them – and you. It is estimated that by 2020, there will be somewhere between 26 and 30 billion devices connected to the Internet.
In addition to refrigerators and TVs, other appliances that could make you vulnerable are your cable box, thermostat, dishwasher, clothes dryer, smart water meter, clock radio, garage door opener and many more.
Almost makes you want to buy old, used appliances, doesn’t it?
The quick and easy is a lot like the quick and cheap; they both come out expensive.
Insist that your new appliances have the necessary firewall for protection or does not have accessibility to the internet.
Dear Frank,
As we’ve discussed before, the high-tech dependency we have is not based on what is useful, practical or even moral.
It is one of those issues like genetics, cloning and stem-cell research where, “Just because we can do something … does not mean that we should!”
As you know, last year my computer was hacked and “Hostage Ware” was implanted. Some outlaw cyber group from India demanded $500 to give me back access to my own computer. When I went to the police and the FBI, they said they cannot stop international cyber crimes.
Thank God I had most of my creative writing backed up on CD’s, but I lost everything when the computer guy here cleaned it out. If he couldn’t have fixed it, I would have had to simply throw my frozen computer away!
The cyber criminals around the world, seem to be smarter than our slow moving cyber police. Worse yet, the good guys have to “play by the rules of law, search and seizure” and the bad guys don’t!
Trouble is, there is almost no way of enjoying high-tech and remain secure any longer.
God Bless All,
Orrin
These are only a few of the portals to your information. Not mentioned here are wireless mice, wireless speakers, or any remote device that is attached to a wireless network. Although unlikely, even bluetooth is possible to hack into if left open within range. This is why I always say, “Use a secure password”.
Old, used appliances are fine until they can no longer be repaired when they break. This whole “internet of things” is just another way that people are trading their privacy and security for a little convenience. It is not just about some hacker singling you out for identity theft. They could potentially go through your internet-connected device to harm or even kill someone else, for example by causing a car crash or causing an implanted medical device to malfunction.
Manufacturers have no incentive to make their devices secure from attacks, as it costs money, and their security improvements are essentially invisible to the consumer. I don’t have a problem with any of my appliances communicating with a central computer in my home, provided that it is not connected to the internet, but there needs to be a way to opt out from or disable any internet connection with anything outside.
Just buy older more reliable appliances and do not have your tv connected to the internet. In this case Older IS better!!
“Older” is fine, but what do you do when “older” breaks and can no longer be repaired? Not connected to the Internet works only if that connection must be made by an Ethernet cable. The problem is all these devices are connected by wireless internet. How secure is the wireless connection? Most likely there’s no security at all. When I’m forced to buy a new appliance I will be looking at ways to physically break the internet device on it. I do not want it nor do I need it.