FBI dumps on IoT security The FBI has decided that your Things are too risky to be allowed anywhere on the Internet. Curiously, given that the Internet of Things is backed by some of the largest tech vendors in the world, the Bureau has also decided that responsibility for security – and for understanding the capability of hardware and software – …
Traditional breaches are serious, but limited in scope. Passwords, credit card numbers, basically just information. But IoT security is going to have crazy implications.
Turning people's heat off in the winter.
Turning people's AC off in the summer.
Turning off power at night, making it easier for burglars to steal without getting caught.
Smart phones, smart homes, smart meters... if only we had smart people instead!
The FBI is also concerned about medical device security – although, again, it flicks responsibility back to the patient instead of telling the industry to fix its persistently lax practices.
"Yes, Mr. Smith. We understand you are unconscious, but you need to wake up, run an update, and reboot your heart monitor."
I'm hoping for gunfight between the Eff Cee Cee and the Eff Bee Eye.... Ok.. maybe not a gunfight... will a pie fight do? Custard is the preferred weapon of choice.
Lets just call it a bunfight of potentially epic proportions, and be done with it.
The IOT is a pile of shite just waiting to be dumped on the poor unsuspecting public.
Theu don't have a clue about what it means in the wider term and how invasive it could (or rather probably will) be.
Keep it separate or not in your home at all.
How long before that new baby monitor is sending data to the nappy {1} manufacturers (And the rest of the world)?
{1} for readers on the RH side of the Pond, Nappies are what you for some reason call Diapers.
Have to wonder what will happen when the fridge breaks down and the ONLY options for a replacement contain Big Brother hardware you can't remove (as in try to remove it and you kill the fridge, void the warranty, and have to get a new one again), such that it's either submit to Big Brother or go without cold stuff.
"Nappies" is much too precious and cutesy-poo for Mericuns generally and Mericun men in particular. Just typing the word makes my testosterone levels plunge.
Look. I don't care how much networking hardware is built in to my sparkly new stapler and pencil sharpener, since neither one is getting my Wi-Fi encryption key or a connection to my Ethernet switch. If they figure out a way to talk to each other that doesn't involve me, I'm fine with it, provided it doesn't turn into that Colossus/Guardian unified clusterfuck thing from the movie "The Forbin Project."
"Curiously, given that the Internet of Things is backed by some of the largest tech vendors in the world"
This is written as if there's something unexpected about this being the source of problems. Given that their practices over the last few years there's nothing curious at all about this.
The fact that the FBI is just so clueless, or that their so-called leaders refuse to listen to their people who do have a clue, is mildly disconcerting to say the least! And now they want us to provide "back doors" into our systems so they can further spy on us? And as if real threats cannot figure those out? Get real folks! The inmates have truly taken over the asylum...
Which makes you wonder what happens when you have no choice but to jump in because it's everywhere you turn, with no option to escape it other than to abandon civilization and retreat to some secluded spot in the country that's still within sight of photo satellites with increasingly-high-resolution lenses? When all roads lead to Big Brother, who's right behind you, what choice is left?
That doesn't prevent you being seen by your neighbors and everything out on the public streets. You have to bring in the parts after all, since most of us don't own mines and smelting plants. And even with a lack of eyes, computers are gaining increasing ability to scrutinize.
"Curiously, given that the Internet of Things is backed by some of the largest tech vendors in the world"
Of course it's backed by a bunch of alternative business model startups. Sell people loads of useless tat that will be fun to play with for a day or two and then forgotten until somebody turns the AC on set to -10 and the next electric bill arrives with a bunch of zeros.
Wait, the electric and gas companies might be the ones hacking your Nest thermostat. Adding a few quid to thousands (millions?) of utility bills can add up fast.
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