As we are becoming more reliant on connected devices to run our homes, businesses and daily lives, cybersecurity has risen to the top of many users’ priority lists. The threats that IoT devices face are very different from those faced by traditional computers and require a different set of tools to protect their devices.
It’s no surprise that malware attacks on IoT devices are increasing. Each type of device has its own operating system, software, and functionality. The absence of standardized software can pose problems when it comes to creating security tools that can be used on many devices.
In 2016 threat actors launched one of the largest botnets of all time by executing a hack on IoT devices. This caused a tsunami of the Internet and rendered websites like the New York Times’s website, Brian Krebs’s website and French web host OVH unavailable for hours. The attackers just scanned the Internet for default usernames and passwords for IoT devices, and then built an army of them to launch the DDoS attack.
Antiviruses and IoT play a vital role in defending against these types of threats. This kind of security software, however, must extend its vigilance to be able to check how IoT devices communicate with each other and with the outside world. It must also ensure solid password practices, 2-factor authentication, and current patching. These measures, when paired with other security tools to protect against IoT dangers, provide an effective defense.