Khaberni - The Cyber Crimes Division of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) warns users of smart devices about their devices being hacked and exploited in cyber attacks without their knowledge.
The FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) indicates that hackers are increasingly targeting "Internet of Things" (IoT) devices, such as:
Smart TVs.
Security cameras.
Thermostats.
Refrigerators.
Fitness trackers.
Children's toys.
The danger of these attacks lies in converting the hacked devices into a part of a "Botnet," a secret network of devices controlled remotely by hackers, to be used in:
launching cyber attacks.
passing malicious internet traffic.
concealing the true source of the attacks.
How does hacking occur?
Hackers do not always rely on phishing or suspicious links; they exploit direct vulnerabilities, most notably:
Weak default passwords (such as: admin / 1234).
Neglecting to update software and systems.
Undiscovered security vulnerabilities known as "Zero-day vulnerabilities."
Signs that your device has been hacked
Experts identify three main indicators to be aware of:
Unusually high data usage due to hidden device activity in sending and receiving data.
Sudden increase in internet bills, especially with charges for high usage.
Slowness of devices or weak "Wi-Fi" network due to malicious software consuming device resources (processor, memory, bandwidth).
These activities occur via an internet connection and the user's IP address, allowing hackers to hide their identities and use the victim's network as a medium for their operations.
How to protect your devices:
Change default passwords immediately.
Install security updates regularly.
Monitor data usage periodically.
