Antiviruses and IoT – Protecting Against IoT Threats

As we become more dependent on technology that is connected to manage our homes and businesses, cybersecurity has become the top concern for a lot of users. The threats IoT devices face are vastly different than the ones faced by traditional computers and require a different set of tools to protect themselves.

With a myriad of different IoT device types each with its own operating systems as well as software and functions it’s no wonder that malware attacks targeting these kinds of devices are on the rise. The absence of standard software can make it difficult to create security tools for multiple devices.

In 2016, threat actors utilized an easy hack on IoT devices to create one of the largest botnet attacks ever and threw off parts of the Internet and rendering websites such as The New York Times, Brian Krebs’s website, and French web host OVH out of service for hours. The attackers simply scanned the Internet for default usernames and passwords for IoT devices, and then built about his an army of them to begin the DDoS attack.

When it comes down to protecting against these kinds of dangers, antiviruses as well as iot play a crucial role to play. This type of security software, however, should be more vigilant to observe how IoT devices are communicating with each other and with the outside world. It should also adhere to strong password practices, 2-factor authentication, and keep up-to-date patching. Together with other security solutions, these measures form an effective defense against IoT threats.