Tag Archive for: homes

Hackers see common smart home devices as a way into homes

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Hackers are trying to access your information every day. One of the biggest vulnerabilities might be your smart home devices.

“Once people have broken into a single device, then typically what they will do is what we call pivot, so they own, if you will, a particular device,” said Steve Beaty, a computer security expert and professor of computer science at the Metropolitan State University of Denver.

“And now, all of a sudden, they’re inside and most of our devices then trust the networks that they’re on,” Beaty said.

He mentioned an example from 2017, where hackers were able to hack into a high-tech fish tank at a casino. From there, they were able to steal more important data from that casino.

This has been happening for years, but it’s getting more common especially as we add more smart devices to our homes, including doorbells, baby monitors, and thermostats.

Hackers can break in and steal passwords or important information, but they can also control anything you have on the network, like a garage door opener for example.

“Maybe they can disarm your security system,” Beaty said. “As the Internet of things has grown, and we have more and more and more devices out there, then we have more vulnerabilities.”

How can you prevent this from happening to you?

First, keep device software up to date.

“Change the default password on all of your devices,” Beaty said.

You can also install antivirus software or use multi-factor authentication on some devices. And in some cases, it might be time for a new upgrade all together.

“I would say specifically webcams, including things like baby monitors, newer is better,” Beaty said.

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Why British homes are at risk from ‘Trojan Horse’ smart devices

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Hikvision has called concerns about its technology “unsubstantiated” and a “knee jerk reaction”.

There are concerns that China’s dominance of technology runs deeper than just consumer gadgets.

Ministers previously ordered telecoms companies to strip technology made by China’s Huawei from mobile and broadband networks by 2027, amid concerns it represented a national security risk, something the company always denied.

Three Chinese companies, Quectel, Fibocom and China Mobile, make up roughly half of global shipments of IoT cellular modules, according to data from Counterpoint Research. While these historically only processed tiny packets of data over 2G networks, increasingly they are picking up and transmitting more information over 4G and 5G mobile networks.

The proliferation of these IoT modules means that bugs or backdoors, whether left in by design or by accident, are a risk. Concerns have only mounted after a concealed tracking device was found in a government car, believed to have been planted in a part imported from China, the i reported.

Under Chinese law, the CCP can compel companies to aid intelligence gathering operations and provide customer data.

Parton has gone as far as to call for a ban on the sale and installation of new Chinese IOT kits that connect to cellular networks.  

Parton, the former diplomat, who now works for the consultancy OODA, writes in a report sent to government officials: “[Chinese Communist Party] policy documents show the strategic importance of IOT technology to the party.

“In line with CCP industrial policy to promote global champions in new industries, IOT companies have benefited from the creation of a domestic market which excludes international competition.”

For now, the main risk presented by IOT technology appears to be weak security practices and cheap, hackable gadgets. But as China’s dominance continues to grow, a more strategic threat could be emerging.

A government spokesman said: “We are legislating to protect consumers’ connected devices, such as smartphones, TVs, speakers and routers, through new laws to strengthen their privacy and security.”

“It will ban sales in the UK of smart…

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Samsung Electronics Shares its Vision for the Homes and Devices of Tomorrow – Samsung Global Newsroom

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This month in San Francisco, the 2022 Samsung Developer Conference (SDC) spotlighted some of Samsung’s best and brightest minds across tech, marketing and product fields, sharing a compelling vision of the future, showcasing the transformational technologies that will improve consumers’ daily lives and giving users more time to focus on what matters most.

 

With opening remarks from Jong-Hee Han, Vice Chairman, CEO and Head of Device Experience (DX) Division at Samsung Electronics, the presentations revealed how Samsung is crafting systems that help make lives smarter, safer, more convenient and more connected than ever before.

 

▲ Attendees take their seats at SDC 2022 in anticipation of the day’s wide-ranging Keynote

 

Read on to see Samsung Newsroom’s recap of the innovation and inspiration revolutionizing how we live and work both now and in the future.

 

 

Opening: A Seamless, Frictionless Experience

Jong-Hee Han opened up the day’s talks by underscoring the importance of convenience in an age of brilliant yet complex technologies. “At Samsung, our goal has always been to make our lives easier through technology innovation,” said Han. “But innovation can also be burdensome for users if convenience is not at the forefront. Our teams are determined to deliver devices that are as smooth and accessible as they are advanced.”

 

▲ Jong-Hee Han, Vice Chairman, CEO and Head of DX Division at Samsung Electronics, welcomes attendees to SDC 2022.

 

Covering everything from Calm Technology to Knox Matrix to holistic household platforms like Bixby Home Studio and SmartThings, Han outlined a device and systems ecosystem that puts the user experience at the center. “The goal of all this is to give you an easier, seamless and more frictionless experience,” Han emphasized. “So you can focus on what matters most.”

 

 

A Home That Learns and Adapts Through SmartThings

Following Jong-Hee Han, Jaeyeon Jung, Vice President and Head of SmartThings, Mobile eXperience Business, discussed how Covid-19 galvanized teams at Samsung to prioritize the important things in life, particularly in the home. “If you’re…

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Speed up your home’s Wi-Fi — this mesh router just hit an all-time low for Prime Day

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Is the router you got from your cable company not cutting it anymore? If it’s slow, laggy and doesn’t cover every room — especially if you live in a two-story house — we’ve got your salvation. There’s a way to get a fast internet connection everywhere in your home without being forced to huddle in one room. And it’s more affordable than ever. Enter the Amazon Eero 6 Mesh Wi-Fi Router, a compact wireless wonder that gets the job done as seamlessly as possible. Ahead of next week’s Prime Early Access Sale, it’s now $75, down from $89. That’s the all-time lowest price for this popular gizmo.

Fast and reliable internet speeds

Here’s how it works: Simply connect this Wi-Fi router to your modem and place it in an open space. Once synced with your internet provider (it’s compatible with most major services), the Eero 6 Mesh Wi-Fi Router can cover up to 1,500 square feet with speeds up to 900 Mbps. Unlike a Wi-Fi extender, which sacrifices speed for coverage, this mesh router can handle both. No lag, hiccups or dropouts! And shoppers are just in love with it.

“This device is super easy to set up and lightning fast,” raved a very happy Amazon shopper. “I was able to stream two 4K movies and three HD movies on five devices at once with no lag. Set everything up in less than 10 minutes…”

Man installing Eero Pro

Your instruction manual for the Eero Wi-Fi router, all in one pic. (Photo: Amazon)

Multiple device support

If you can’t live (or work) without Wi-Fi, the Eero 6 Mesh Wi-Fi Router will breathe new life into your home. You can also control all devices on your network with the Eero mobile app to give more or less signal strength to devices that might need it.

For example: A Roku Streaming Stick or Fire TV Stick for 4K video streaming might need more speed, while your kids’ laptops could use a slower speed — especially if they’re supposed to be studying instead of watching YouTube videos. It even works with the Echo Dot and Alexa for hands-free navigation. It’s also easy to set up!

“This router is amazing! This router was well worth the price and is possibly one of the best purchases I have ever made,” shared a satisfied Amazon shopper. “We were having a hard time getting and keeping…

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