Writing from my desk, caffeinated by my third cup of coffee and the residual electricity of DefCon, and especially a few hours spent in the hardware hacking village, I can’t help but wonder what has happened to the networks we began to assemble in the ‘90s. Back then, as a netadmin wrangling muxes over PSTN, security was about guarding against slammer worms, patching machines, and ensuring firewalls were secure. Now? The game has changed. Radically. And honestly—it’s exhausting.

The Internet of Things (IoT) even turned lightbulbs into attack surfaces. Never mind servers or endpoints for a moment; cybercriminals are increasingly moving towards enjoying these deceptively “dumb” devices. And they’re winning, because—to put it simply—IoT security remains an afterthought for far too many manufacturers and organizations across the board.

Vulnerabilities of the Internet of Things: A Perfect Storm for Cybercriminals

So here’s the thing about IoT devices: They seem innocent. I mean, what could a thermostat possibly reveal? Oh, just your entire network. This is because IoT devices are almost always the weakest point in their most cutting-edge networks due to their simple (out) and complex (in) nature. Here’s why they have become a hacker’s paradise:

• Default Credentials: Consider this, a consumer installs their new IoT camera. Do they change the default admin username “admin” with a generic password “password123”? Exactly. Often, default credentials are included with IoT products, and few users change them.
• Patch Aversion: Unlike operating systems or enterprise software, IoT devices seldom receive timely patches — if they force updates at all. And even if there’s a fix, how many regular users are applying firmware updates to their smart lightbulbs?
• No Network Segmentation: Businesses—and certainly individuals—don’t put IoT devices on their own network segments. Therefore, once they have access to one IoT device, they can perform some fundamental lateral movement to reach more critical systems.
• Too “Smart” Homes and Businesses: From motion sensors to HVAC systems to industrial machinery—everything is becoming connected. But greater connectivity also means greater risks. And honestly? Most devices in the world don’t need half the “smart” things they’re sold on.

I’ve seen things, folks. In some cases, one vulnerability in a smart vending machine allowed attackers to move laterally into a company’s full payroll system. A vending machine! But even when the risks may seem obvious to you and me, businesses then ignore them until it’s too late.

The Reality of IoT Cyber Threats with Case Studies

Well, I kinda miss the Slammer worm sometimes. Don’t get me wrong, it was a nasty bug — but at least it had a certain simplicity to it. Those are IoT attacks we’re currently witnessing? The vectors of attack are strange, surprising, and frequently harrowing. Here are a few I’ve encountered recently:

1. The Smart HVAC System That Wasn’t So Smart: Last year, my team was summoned by a bank (I do work with a few banks these days) when they saw signs of anomalies within their network. Turns out, their IoT-controlled HVAC had been compromised. The hackers were draining data for months. The HVAC was the first to gain access, but then they found a way into customer account data because—yup—you guessed it, the network wasn’t segmented.
2. The Rogue Coffee Machine: While assessing a medium enterprise’s office environment, we found (of all things) their IoT coffee machine was broadcasting continuous outbound communication to strange IP addresses. It was a member of a botnet. Let that sink in: without even knowing, they were helping DDoS other organizations, from their breakroom.
3. The Dangers of Smarter Cameras (Spoiler: They’re Not So Smart): This one’s personal. Many years ago at a previous organization, we placed smart security cameras all over a campus. I thought they were isolated enough. Wrong. I’ll take this on the chin: these devices eventually turned into an attack vector because of outdated firmware I hadn’t even bothered to double-check. A lesson learned the hard way: Never assume any device is “too small” to be significant.

Security Concerns: How We Strike Back

So what do we do? It’s all well and good for us to rant about the security failures of IoT devices, but the more pressing question is: how can you protect your network from devices that are so innately broken? What I would suggest for consumers and enterprises is:

1. Change Default Settings:
   • Change default admin credentials as soon as you create a new IoT device.
   • Have this as a corporate policy if you’re deploying at scale. If it is possible, automate compliance checks.
2. Segment Your Network:
   • Isolate IoT devices from sensitive systems with VLANs or firewalls.
3. Demand Updates:
   • Stick to manufacturers that provide regular firmware updates. If a vendor has no motivation to patch security vulnerabilities, walk away.
4. Log Everything—Even For “Dumb” Devices:
   • Even if you are using IoT devices, they create logs. Don’t ignore them. Behavioral anomalies can be detected through log aggregation and monitoring with SIEM solutions.
5. Adopt Zero Trust:
   • By default, IoT devices should never be trusted. Period.
6. Pen-Test Your IoT Systems:
   • Perform regular penetration tests to identify vulnerabilities. Tempted to skip this step? Don’t.

Trends: The Future of IoT Cybersecurity

Here is the painful truth: IoT security will never catch up with IoT deployment. Why? Because in the race to get new products to market, security is rarely a manufacturer’s priority. And AI-driven “solutions” for IoT security? Don’t even get me started. It’s a buzzword-driven method that makes me skeptical.

What we need is higher standards. Governments and regulators will (one hopes) begin to enforce stricter security requirements on IoT makers. But until then? The onus is on us—the consultants, the IT admins, the business leaders—to take the initiative to secure our networks.

Here are some trends to follow:

• More IoT-targeted Malware: Criminals have figured out that IoT devices are a goldmine. Expect to see more malware aimed at poorly secured devices.
• Rise of Edge AI: Some companies are building AI-powered features right into their devices. That sounds cool, but it also introduces another attack vector.
• Government Regulation: Watch for evolving standards for IoT security—and mandating use of it if you’re in a regulated space like finance or healthcare.

Quick Take

Don’t have time to read the complete blog? Here’s the gist:

• Default credentials, lack of updates, and poor design lead to IoT devices being the weak link.
• Cybercriminals take advantage by traversing networks or drafting devices into botnets.
• Everyone has to take IoT security seriously—from businesses to individuals—including changing default settings, segmenting networks, and adopting zero trust principles.

Stay alert, as more IoT-specific threats will emerge in the future.