Safer Internet: Internet of Things

Summary |
References: General | Alexa (Amazon Echo), Ring | Apple |
Camera | Cars | Google Home | Health | Home; |Smart TVs | Wearables

Summary

• Q. How many engineers does it take to change a lightbulb?...
  A. That depends on whether or not that lightbulb is connected to Wi-Fi
• "Amazon Alexa is for... accessibility.
  Google Assistant is for brainpower.
  and Apple Siri is for security". ~review article; WaPo
• There ever more types of internet-connected devices -- at home and on our person:
• Home: Amazon Alexa, Google Home, security cameras, home automation, lightbulbs, thermostats, smoke alarms, appliances, water valves
• Set-top Devices: camera, microphone, people identification (Kinect), playlist, game consoles
• Wearable technology: watches, fitness trackers, glasses
• [1] Be vigilant about cool new features: Helpful Assistant vs. 'Big Brother'
• [1] Check list: privacy & security settings, changeable password, ongoing support, security updates, encryption, ...
  -- or, don't purchase gadget, or disable 'smart' functionality altogether?

References

• {TCYOP-4: 166-170; TCYOP-3: 140-144; Set-top Devices; Web-connected Cameras; appliances, light bulbs, home-automation equipment, home security systems, Google Home, Amazon's Alexa}
• sections: Alexa (Amazon Echo), Ring; Apple; Camera; Cars; Google Home; Health; Home; Smart TVs; Wearables
• Wikipedia: Internet of Things (IoT); ubiquitous computing
• Wikipedia: 6LoWPAN acronym of IPv6 over Low power Wireless Personal Area Networks
• Mozilla: Entertainment, Health & Exercise, Pets,
  Smart Home, Wearables
  product ratings -- minimum security standards:
  Encryption: Does the app/service offer it?
  Security updates: How regularly is the app/service updated?
  Strong passwords: How strong are the app’s password guidelines?
  Manages vulnerabilities: Is there a way for people to report bugs and other security issues with the app?
  Privacy policy: Does it exist?
• All of Your Smart Devices Are Spying on You LH; 8/16/2022
• Steps to Simple Online Security: Secure small gadgets and smart-home devices NYT; 4/22/2022
• The UK Just Banned Default Passwords and We Should Too
  the new bill would require unique passwords for IoT devices and would
  prevent those passwords from being reset to universal factory default; Giz; 11/24/2021
• Thinking about selling your Echo Dot—or any IoT device? Read this first
  deleting data is hard; factory reset; encryption? Ars; 7/2/2021
• How Secure Is Your Digital Assistant? Google Assistant, Alexa, Siri; Giz; 12/11/2020
• Critical Flaws in Millions of IoT Devices May Never Get Fixed Wired; 12/8/2020
• Secure Your Smart Home Devices AAA Via, pp 26-27 Nov/Dec 2020
• Ink-Stained Wretches: The Battle for the Soul of Digital Freedom Taking Place Inside Your Printer HP; EFF; 11/5/2020
• Over 100 irrigation systems left exposed online without a password ZD; 10/26/2020
• The WIRED Guide to the Internet of Things What you need to know about the promise (and peril) of networked lightbulbs, ovens, cameras, speakers, ...; Wired; 9/11/2020
• Ripple20 vulnerabilities will haunt the IoT landscape for years to come TCP/IP library found at the base of many IoT products; ZD; 6/16/2020
• Carnegie Mellon Researchers Design 'Nutrition Label' For The Internet Of Broken Things TD; 6/9/2020
• 6 devices to keep tabs on your aging family members without invading their privacy CNet; 5/1/2020
• Critical bugs in dozens of Zyxel and Lilin IoT models under active exploit DDoS botnets abuse IoT flaws to conscript vulnerable devices; Ars; 3/21/2020
• How to protect your personal data in the age of IoT TNW; 3/10/2020
• IoT Trouble: The Sonos Example -- And More 1/26/2020
• How hackable is your smart device? The UL IoT Security Rating and UL Verified Mark will tell you TH; 1/8/2020

Alexa, Ring

• An Alexa bug could have exposed your voice history to hackers Amazon has patched the flaw, but remember to lock down your voice assistant interactions; Ars; 8/15/2020
• Ring cameras are more secure now, but your neighbors still snoop with them Ars; 2/18/2020
• How to Prevent Ring from Sharing Your Data with Marketing Companies LH; 2/18/2020
• 3 privacy issues to consider before bringing an Amazon Echo into your house Sharing with law enforcement; Tracking health issues; Transparency; TNW; 2/6/2020

Apple

• AirTag bug could let a hacker steal iCloud passwords MW; 9/29/2021
• When You’re Told an AirTag Is Moving with You TB; 6/4/2021
• The Two Faces of Find My
  Find My device (Internet);
  Find My network (crowdsourced);
  TB; 5/23/2021
• 13 AirTag Tracking Scenarios
  Something Lost:
  Bill's Wayward Keys;
  Manjula and the Missing Messenger Bag;
  Nic's Missing Laptop Bag;
  Martyn's Post-Bender Panic;
  Ruth Bader Ginspurr Escaped the House;
  Something Stolen:
  Chai's Snagged Bag;
  Sorry, Charlie;
  Fenchurch's Double AirTag;
  Bad News, Vicente;
  Someone Stalked or Tracked:
  Yuen's Ex-Boyfriend;
  Annelise's Nosy Neighbor;
  A Package for Betsy;
  Florian's Mystery AirTag;
  TB; 5/15/2021
• [2] How to Unlock That Hidden Debug Mode for AirTags in iOS 14.5 LH; 5/6/2021
• AirTag review: They work great—maybe a little too great Ars; 5/5/2021

Camera, Drones

• Burglars Using Wi-Fi Jammers to Disable Security Cameras 3/13/2024
• Popular Chinese-Made Drone Is Found to Have Security Weakness NYT; 7/23/2020
• Security cameras can tell burglars when you're not home, study shows amount of data uploaded; CNN; 7/6/2020
• Who's Watching Your Porch? NYT; 1/20/2020

Cars

Google Home

• A Google Nest Hub might join you for your next hotel stay Nest Hub (as opposed to the larger Nest Hub Max) doesn’t have an integrated camera, and guests will always be able to flip a switch to disable the display’s microphone. Also, you won't have to sign in to the Nest Hub with your Google account to use the display, and 'any activities' will be wiped from the device before the next guest checks in; TH; 8/25/2020

Health

• Viral news story of botnet with 3 million toothbrushes was too good to be true
  journalists reported on hypothetical toothbrush botnet
  as if it were real; Ars; 2/8/2024
• Half of internet-connected devices in hospitals are vulnerable to hacks, report finds
  IV pumps were the biggest risk; Verge; 1/19/2022
• Your Pricey Peloton Has Another Problem For You To Sweat Over
  malware apps; monitor users via bike's camera and microphone; NPR; 6/16/2021
• The Dick Jail Is 'Safe' Again, but Use at Your Own Risk Qiui Cellmate Chastity Cage; Giz; 2/10/2021
• Internet-Connected Chastity Cages Hit By Bitcoin Ransom Hack TD; 1/12/2021
• GE puts default password in radiology devices, leaving healthcare networks exposed Ars; 12/8/2020
• IoT Chastity Penis Lock Can Be Hacked TD; 10/9/2020
• Why fixing security vulnerabilities in medical devices, IoT is so hard Ars; 2/19/2020

Home

• Unwanted Connection: Who Has Control of Your Smart Home? NYT; 2/17/2023
• A New City, Built Upon Data, Takes Shape in South Korea
  smart city, homes; NYT; 3/28/2022
• Nobi will watch over your grandparents, literally, from a ceiling mounted smart lamp this AI powered gadget is smart enough to know if you're sitting, standing or laying down and will reach out for help if you fall down; CNet; 1/12/2021
• When coffee makers are demanding a ransom, you know IoT is screwed watch along as hacked machine grinds, beeps, and spews water; Ars; 9/26/2020
• Amazon Unveils Drone That Films Inside Your Home. What Could Go Wrong? NYT; 9/25/2020
• How to Secure and Protect Your Smart Home
  Secure your network;
  Use unique passwords;
  Stick with reputable brands;
  Directly protect your devices (2FA);
  Read the fine print;
  Take responsibility; NYT; 9/18/2020
• Consumer Reports Study Shows Many 'Smart' Doorbells Are Dumb, Lack Basic Security TD; 8/24/2020
• Meet the Star Witness: Your Smart Speaker requests are rising from law enforcement for information on the devices, which can include internet queries, food orders, and overheard conversations; Wired; 8/23/2020
• Petnet 'Smart' Feeder Customers Are Stuck In IoT Purgatory TD; 7/16/2020
• Tips and best practices for optimizing your smart home TH; 5/6/2020
• Philips' Internet-Connected Lightbulbs Will No Longer Connect to the Internet Philips no longer feels like supporting 1st generation; MB; 3/6/2020
• Security experts warn of vulnerability in Philips Hue smart lights vulnerability could have let hackers infiltrate users' home or corporate networks; Fortune; 2/5/2020
• Smart homes will turn dumb overnight as Charter kills security service lack of interoperability in alarm systems; Ars; 1/17/2020

Smart TVs

• Vizio TV buyers are becoming the product Vizio sells, not just its customers
  Vizio's ads, streaming, and data business grew 133 percent year-over-year; Ars; 5/12/2021
• Can I Save Money by Buying a 'Dumb' TV? not really, but you can disconnect it from internet; Wired; 11/26/2020
• Behind Roku's Ad-Supported Streaming Strategy WSJ; 3/29/2020

Wearables

• Wikipedia: Wearable computer; Smart watch; Google Glass
• Could Someone Hack My Microchip Implant? Giz; 10/5/2020