All articles tagged with #internet of things
An AWS outage caused smartbeds from Eight Sleep to malfunction, leaving users stuck in reclined positions or with the heat turned up, highlighting the impact of cloud service disruptions on connected devices.
Hackers infected around three million smart toothbrushes with malware and used them to launch a DDoS attack on a Swiss company's website, resulting in the loss of millions of Euros. The toothbrush botnet was vulnerable due to its Java-based OS, and cybersecurity experts warn that any device connected to the internet is a potential target for hackers. Stefan Zuger from Fortinet provided tips on protecting connected devices, emphasizing the ongoing arms race between device makers and cyber criminals.
Approximately three million smart toothbrushes were hijacked by hackers to launch a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack, knocking out a Swiss company for several hours and costing millions of euros in damages. The compromised toothbrushes, running Java, flooded the Swiss website with bogus traffic, causing widespread disruption. This incident highlights the expanding threat landscape as IoT devices become increasingly embedded in daily lives, emphasizing the need for robust digital hygiene and security measures to protect against potential cyber attacks.
BlackBerry has reversed its decision to spin off its internet-of-things business and will instead reorganize to keep it in-house alongside its cybersecurity unit. The company aims for each division to operate independently and be profitable and cashflow-positive going forward. Additionally, BlackBerry has named a new CEO.
Home Assistant, a popular software for privacy-focused smart homes, is introducing a new product called Home Assistant Green to make the platform more accessible. Priced at $99, the Home Assistant Green is a compact device with preloaded Home Assistant software, making it easier for users to set up a smart home without the need for extensive hardware tinkering. The device comes with a quad-core CPU, 32GB eMMC storage, 4GB RAM, USB slots, HDMI out, and a microSD slot for expansion. The goal is to provide a more affordable and user-friendly entryway into the world of Home Assistant, catering to those who want a privacy-focused smart home without the complexity.