The Importance of IoT Security in Today's Digital Era

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth configurations in IoT devices pose a significant risk of data leakage. Weak encryption methods can allow attackers to steal credentials while data is being transmitted across the network

Fremont, CA: Digitally connected devices and applications are infiltrating all aspects of people's lives, including homes, offices, automobiles, and even their bodies. To reap the benefits of being connected to the internet, all objects are becoming smart. The Internet of Things (IoT) era is exploding at an alarming rate.

Most common threat vectors for IoT

Physical Possession of the Device

This is possibly the most dangerous of all threat vectors in which attackers gain physical access to devices and workloads. With this level of access, attackers can easily gain access to the internals of devices and their content, but they can also read all network communication using tools such as Shikra, Bus Pirate, or Logic Analyzers. An attacker with physical access to an IoT device can extract cryptographic secrets, modify its programming, or replace it with another device under their control.

Lack of Physical Boundaries

IoT devices exist outside of the traditional network perimeter and in the open. Traditional security approaches for restricting device access are no longer applicable. These devices can be moved to any new location as needed and configured to connect to the network.

Weakly Configured Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Wi-Fi and Bluetooth configurations in IoT devices pose a significant risk of data leakage. Weak encryption methods can allow attackers to steal credentials while data is being transmitted across the network. Furthermore, most passwords are not uniquely set for each device, leaving the door open for unauthorized access to the entire network if just one device is compromised.