Latin America. The rise of the Internet of Things (IoT) has propelled us into a new information age in which data is now an essential part of industries. Companies are beginning to collect, and use information generated from smart devices connected to the network, such as video cameras. The IoT has brought great advantages, but with everything and its possibilities, it also represents a significant threat to the security of people.
Cybersecurity is an extremely important issue for everyone, not only in the field of video surveillance, but at all levels. For example, the current situation requires us to carry out our work remotely, this has made us increase the vulnerabilities of the network, only in Latin America there has been a significant increase in cyberattacks during the days of confinement.
Manuel Zamudio, Partnerships Manager for Axis in Latin America, comments that, "with technological development, cyber threats continue to emerge, even today there are more connected IoT devices than people in the world and statistics indicate that in five years the number of computers on the network will double, which will undoubtedly imply an increase in cyberattacks."
To know how to defend ourselves, it is first essential to know why we are vulnerable. The company's experts provide us with the answer to two questions of utmost importance to deter cyber risks.
Why are IoT devices vulnerable?
Computers connected to the internet are vulnerable due to the following factors:
Lack of good security practices when installing or configuring: Leaving default settings is one of the main vulnerabilities of computers, since cyber thieves know this type of security patterns very well.
Lack of security standards for the IoT: Previously there was no security standard, it was not until 2019 that the ETSI 103 645 standard was created by the European Telecommunications Agency, which establishes regulations for a better use of equipment, which includes periodic updates, encrypted traffic, etc.
High costs in research and cybersecurity: Investing in cybersecurity is an important investment, so many technology development companies decide not to assume this responsibility, since it would imply increasing the cost of the product.
Insecure network services: It is very important to keep our internet network secure with passwords that are encrypted with complex words. It is advisable to use codes, capital letters and numbers, otherwise, for a hacker it is very easy to decrypt them and access any device.
Lack of updates: It is very common for installed devices not to be updated, which causes a very large risk, since cybercriminals will have a greater opportunity to know the vulnerabilities.
What to do?
The company's expert points out that "good practices in cybersecurity issues are the best way to reduce threats. Among the great variety of tips that exist, the ideal is a convergence between concrete actions and make us aware that the risks exist and it is important to mitigate them". To do this, it is essential to take into account the following points:
- Devices should be installed with safety in mind: That is, take a step beyond factory settings.
- Continuously verify that the equipment is up to date.
- Only use devices created by experienced manufacturers: It is convenient not to get carried away by low costs, since in the long run it can be harmful.
- Hire security tests: These will help us identify if our computers have suffered an attempted attack.
- Make staff aware of the inherent risks.
- Conduct ongoing investigation: To be up to date with new vulnerabilities and malicious software.
The ecosystem of information technologies is an amalgam of products and services that can be developed in the network. To the IoT have been added smartphones, laptops, tablets and video cameras (among many others) that run software that needs access to the system, which represents a possible cyber risk. And although as users we consider that we are doing the right thing by keeping our devices with passwords, the reality is that each computer we connect can mean a Trojan horse accidentally introduced, therefore, it is of utmost importance to be aware of the responsibility involved in connecting a device to the network, so we suggest following the advice of experts, since information technologies will always be a target for criminals.
