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Retired Webrooter
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448 replies
Ahh, the "Internet of Things." By now, I am sure many of you are well of this term. If not, basically, from refrigerators to washing machines to thermostats, more and more everyday devices today can connect to the web. The potential problem that arises from this concept is that, because security isn't necessarily a top concern, just about any of these device is hackable. We've posted stories about devices that, if hacked, could have life-threatening consequences. The late researcher, Barnaby Jack , demonstrated how a
pacemaker could be hacked, and the guys from DARPA recently took Andy Greenberg of Forbes for a joyride (albeit it couldn't be all that joyful), showing viewers a
car hack in which the driver loses pretty much all control of the vehicle.
Now, security researcher Nitesh Dhanjani, has discovered a vulnerability in the Phillips-made Hue LED lighting system, which is controlled by computers and smartphones, showing yet another reason why it could be risky business connecting everyday devices to the internet.
"Lighting is critical to physical security. Smart lightbulb systems are likely to be deployed in current and new residential and corporate constructions. An abuse case such as the ability of an intruder to remotely shut off lighting in locations such as hospitals and other public venues can result in serious consequences."
You can see Dhanjani demonstrate how the light hack works in the following video. The story was reported by Dan Goodin on
ARS Technica.
(Souce: ARS Technica)