What is this IoT I have been hearing about?

The IoT or internet of things is becoming an increasingly popular topic of conversation between technology experts and futurologists, but what is it?

The IoT is the network of connected physical objects. This includes everything from mobile phones, fridges, washing machines, webcams, lighting, wearable devices and almost anything else you can think of. There is a conservative estimate that there will be over 26 billion connected devices by the year 2020.

Examples often touted are of the coffee maker that texts you when you are running out of your favourite coffee or the smart fridge that tells you off for drinking too much beer. However, the are many more practical, real world, implementations of the IoT. Many heating providers are now advertising the smart heating systems that you can control remotely from your smart phone. Or, lighting companies who can provide lighting that can be pre-programmed to represent relevant moods. 

But why all the fuss?

Well on the bottom line is the energy saving possibilities that can be delivered by such technologies. It has been estimated that households could save up to 10% of the annual energy bills by the appropriate use of the IoT in a structured Smart Home scenario. Not to be sniffed at, by anyone.

But, Are we there yet?

This is a yes and no answer.  While some of the ideas and even some of the implementations of IoT devises are a bit ‘pie in the sky’ at the moment, more and more devices are coming onto the market every day.  The big plus is the Smart Home realisation of the IoT is most definitely with us. This includes centralised, remote and automated control of lighting, security, comfort and audio-visual aspect of the home.

So what does this mean?

Way back, along came the TV. Initially, to a few houses here and there. Then everyone had to have one (or more) Jump forward a few decades and a long came satellite TV. Again a few households here and there. Then almost everyone had a dish on the wall. The same can be said for mobile phones.

Smart Homes and the IoT will be the next such technology. All you need to do is Google the related subjects to see the march towards a truly connect world.

If you are interested in the Smart Home, feel free to get in contact with VGS Media. We will be glad to answer your questions.

You call that a Password

In my last post I eluded to the need for people to use strong passwords. I have received so much communication on the subject that I decided to dedicate this week’s post to the world of passwords.

I’ve worked in IT for quite some time now, and the amount of times I have sat at someone’s locked machine and had to think – ‘Now what would XXX use as their password, just to have gained access a few minutes later. Too many people are in the habit of using the obvious. 

A recent analysis of a large sample of passwords reviled that people still used simple to crack password to protect their systems. I am referring to passwords such as: 123456, password, qwerty (3 of the most commonly used passwords out there.) After that people tend to use names, their own, their spouses, their children, even their pets. Then the next group are people that use the sporting alliances for their passwords. All it takes is a little knowledge for even the most primitive of hacker too guess these. And most hacking tools would gain access almost instantly. 

Technology users need to adopt safe password protocols.

Strength

As I have said, a strong password is one that cannot be easily guessed, or hacked by a brute force attack in an acceptable amount of time. That means no words likely to be found in a dictionary, no common names, no dates of birth, and nothing too short. 

Passwords should be of a reasonable length, be a random mixture of lower and uppercase letters, utilise numbers and symbols. Although some systems limit the complexity, you should always try to adhere to this rule.

If stumped, try out one of the many on line password generators.

Variety

Do not use just one or two passwords to secure all your systems. It may be a no-brainer, but so many people fall into this group. If a hacker cracks one password, then they will have access to your whole digital life. Just think about it.

Do not make it easy for them. Use a different password for every instance where you need to use one. You may think this may make your life hell, we are all so connected these days, we access countless secure systems. Don’t worry about this, check out the section on TOOLS.

The Week Link

Quite often we, as users, are the weakest link in the whole security chain. To mitigate the risk your yourself post, you should follow a couple of rules.

1. Never write a password down, just in case you forget it. Anyone may see this in passing.
2. Do not share your password with others. If someone needs to be on your machine, you should log them on yourself. Then watch them until they have completed their task at hand.
3. Decline invitations from your browser to remember your passwords. Doing this is just the same as having just one password for all systems. As, when someone manages to gain access to your machine, all they have to do is fire up your favourite browser to gain access to all your on-line accounts.

Tools

The thought of remembering dozens of completely different passwords may fill you with dread. However, if you are not the sort of person that is predisposed to remembering random collections of gibberish, there are tools out there designed to do this for you. 

Relying on a single system is not ideal, however it could be the compromise you are looking for. One word of warning though is: Research the merits and pitfalls of any such systems you intend to adopt prior to their implementation.

After reading this, if the digital life fills you with fear, don’t worry. Just take the steps outlined and they will help keep you safe in an ever growing digital world. Alternatively, if you would like more advice on security in the digital age, or are interested in a digital security audit, please feel free to get in touch with us here at VGS Media.

Securing the Smart Home

As the world of the Internet of things (IoT) and more homes embrace Smart Home technologies, it is obvious that security will become a growing concern, and even a growing issue if left to manage itself. When a home is connected to the internet it can become a target for hackers.

So, the question is, as always, what can occupants of a Smart Home do to protect themselves against the unwanted attentions of potential hackers?

• Stick to reputable brands: The Smart Home is an emerging market place, and companies new to the market (or who are just dabbling with the market) may not provide as secure a product set as those who are more established. That is not to say that innovation is not good for a growing technology trend, but consumers’ must take care to evaluate their options.

• Ensure that any updates are regularly applied: Like all things IT, as and when any vulnerabilities are identified, providers of equipment work quickly to build in protection against that vulnerability. Ensuring your equipment’s software and/or firmware are always kept up to date will protect you against those known security risks.

• Always change the default password settings: Many people stick with the default passwords on devices. This is a major flaw, as all it takes for the hacker to gain access to your devices, and then you home, is to guess what those devices are, and then they are in.

• Always use a strong password: A strong password is one that cannot be easily guessed, or hacked by a brute force attack in an acceptable amount of time. That means no words likely to be found in a dictionary, no common names, no dates of birth, and nothing too short.

• Ensure you router is secure: After all your router is the gateway to your network. A poorly configured router makes it so much easier for cyber criminals to gain access to your devices. Also note, the above recommendations on passwords, equally apply to the router.

• Take professional advice: Finally, if you are going to dive in to the world of the Smart Home, consider taking professional advice. Companies who specialise in the designing and installation of Smart Home systems are more likely to be aware of the risks than the every-day member of the public. Plus, they may even surprise you of what you can achieve on your budget.

If you want to find out more about Smart Homes, Home Automation, or even the security risks around the various technology sets, feel free to get in touch with us here at VGS media.

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