

Once you move to a secure router, it’s a good idea to research the smart devices you might want. Most people simply use the router provided by their internet service provider, but a lot of independent companies also sell routers. It’s the foundational item that connects all your connected devices and makes them operable. Like any front door, it should be solid and equipped with strong locks, in case cybercriminals come knocking.īuilding a more secure smart home starts with your Wi-Fi router. Default or hardcoded passwords, which hackers can exploit.Ĭonsider your Wi-Fi router the “front door” to your smart home.No mechanism for updating software, which can create vulnerabilities.No system hardening, which gives a computer system various means of protection and makes it more secure.Their poor security practices could include these: Security usually isn’t a top priority for IoT device makers. That makes them vulnerable to malware.Īnd there’s another reason. Why? Because - like most other connected devices - they have little or no built-in security. Home routers and security cameras are top IoT targets for hackers. Or they might use your devices and others to launch a broad attack. They might infiltrate your IoT devices to do you harm. The examples show cybercriminals can act locally and globally. The result? In this case, major websites such as Spotify, Netflix, and PayPal were temporarily shut down. A botnet can combine the processing power of small devices to launch a large-scale cyberattack. This happened in 2016, when hundreds of thousands of compromised connected devices were pulled into a botnet dubbed Mirai. Cybercriminals can harness the power of your IoT devices. And it can block network traffic and steal your passwords.Ģ. It can also collect information passing through your router. VPNFilter is able to install malware onto devices and systems connected to your router - the hardware that allows communication between your connected devices and the internet. The VPNFilter malware - short for malicious software - infected over half a million routers in more than 50 countries. Cybercriminals sometimes access your home network though your router. 2 examples of cybercriminals targeting routers and IoT devicesĬybercriminals target networked homes for different reasons.
