Smart Coffee Machines or truly speaking any electronic device connected to the internet can now be used by hackers to steal ID and Passwords says Vince Steckler, a security expert. Mocking the technology of ‘Internet of Things’ the expert who is also a Chief Executive Officer at Avast says that all smart devices can be remotely overtaken to steal personal info.
Steckler said that he has now refused to use Facebook-owned WhatsApp because he believes that it could hinder the privacy of his friends along with him.
“Nowadays, Coffee Machines can remotely be operated by homeowners with the help of their smartphones or voice commands using a virtual assistant such as Amazon Alexa. But the technology used comes with its own disadvantages as the smart appliances are often not secured- meaning hackers can access them on a remote basis and get hold of personal data such as banking details or passwords”, says Steckler speaking at the VivaTech Summit in Paris.
Citing an example of the 2013 hack on US Retail Giant Target, the Avast software security expert said that hackers accessed the credit card details of more than 41 million shoppers by accessing the database by infiltrating the network via company’s air conditioning system. So, as the usage of smart appliances such as TVs, phones, and refrigerators has increased now, the intensity will also crucify on the threat scale.
Do you agree with what is being said by the Avast executive….?
Well, like every technology, IoT also has its own share of pros and cons.
Actually, it depends on who is using it and with what intention.
If the bad guy has the intention then he/she will somehow get into the network through phishing, malware or network hack…..isn’t it?
And hacking a smart coffee machine or an IoT device is just a launch medium.
