The key facts
- IT expert Artyom Geller warned that a hack of smart devices could expose registration data, video, audio and sensor readings
- The collected information can be sold — to everyone from advertisers to criminals
- The expert advises disabling unused functions and covering cameras, but there is no full guarantee of protection
What a stranger can learn about the owner of smart devices
Personal information about owners of smart home appliances may end up in the hands of strangers, IT expert Artyom Geller warned in a comment to Abzats. According to him, if devices are hacked, attackers may gain not only the data entered during registration in apps, but also video, audio recordings and sensor readings.
Where the data goes and how to reduce the risks
Information transmitted by devices can be intercepted in various ways and then sold. The most harmless scenario, the specialist said, is such data ending up with advertisers, who use it to tailor ads to a specific person.
How to reduce the risks
According to Geller, the risks can be reduced by disabling functions the owner does not use: if the camera is not needed at the moment, it should be physically covered. When buying devices, he advised giving preference to developers with a well-known track record. However, even a major manufacturer, the expert concluded, does not guarantee complete protection against leaks.
An example of the real consequences of hacking
The scale of the possible harm is illustrated by a recent incident in Europe: hackers remotely activated the defrosting of refrigerators in supermarkets in more than ten European countries. In some stores, the units heated up to 50 degrees, forcing the food to be thrown away. The main wave of attacks came on the night of November 2, and preliminary damage was estimated in the tens of millions of euros.
