The San Jose Mercury-News reports that a hacker cracked a family's "Nest" brand security camera and announced an imminent missile strike through its speakers, giving them a terrible five minutes until they realized it was a hoax. The story goes on to say that this is hardly the first time that a "Nest" device has been compromised and Nest doesn't like to talk about it.

One more time, as Tom Lawrence frequently points out at SMLR, "IoT" stands for "internet of targets."

...and the "S" in "IoT" stands for "Security".

I remember back in the day, when I first read about Windows 95's default Internet security, it struck me that the main reason the Web 'worked' for millions of Windows users was that most of the people using it were relatively decent humans who didn't go around hitting easy targets just because they could.

Now I think a secondary factor was that there was a limit to how much a script kiddie could do to an average remote PC before getting bored. The IoT solves that "problem" by providing a pool of easily-identified devices that have fun things like cameras and speakers.

"Fake news" delivered differently

????

Also, another Nest story: https://www.sacbee.com/latest-news/a...225011220.html

I meant it as in: it's clearly not a imminent missile strike, and clearly someone playing silly buggers, and it's not being delivered through normal means, therefore when one thinks (if they can think logically of course) about it; then it would have to raise at least some red flags, as to whether it's really true or not.

I don't honestly understand how people would not question that. As if the government is going to use your security system to announce something like that - what's wrong with the TV or radio ?

They're both full of "fake news"?

The problem with IoT devices is that they are made for the masses, who just plug them in and say "oh look, it works!". They have no inkling of the security implications of what they do. Unfortunately, there are miscreants (script kiddies) on the Internet that take advantage of this. It's sad really, because the IoT industry has exploded and frankly they are making money so don't care what happens. People almost always prefer convenience over security.

My wife HAD to have "Alexa". I was forced to vlan off all these stupid devices just in case one of them is compromised. All this so she could add stuff to a shared shopping list...

Oh yeah, that's why I take what pretty much, if not any medium says with a grain of salt. And more to the point, try and employ something called "logical thinking", although I will admit with some people, that's a lot easier said than done. And it's hard enough to understand why they even bother in the first place, let alone where their coming from. I give up trying to understand some people, I really do...

(not referring to yourself )

Didn't think you were

Actually, reading your post was like watching "Grumpy Old Men/Women" (the FIRST time they were on TV) and thinking "What's grumpy? It's just the way it is!"

Isn't it just?

I often wonder if it's just old age, but then I think "well I do know some older people the still have good attitudes". So I guess it depends on the person. I also think "well, do I really wanna know? ... probably not, some things are just better left to mystery...". Beyond that, I really don't know...

Who knows? I don't...

I don't think it's necessarily age so much as time spent on this planet - the more time the more bovine excrement you have to put up with along the way. Eventually everybody draws a line in the sand and says "that's enough, I'm not accepting any more" (and then get called grumpy and old for it).

Coming back on topic, as far as I'm concerned the uncontrolled and uncontrollable* IoT (Insecurity of Things) is several steps past my line in the sand.

*I'm old school about some things - I want a physical switch.