Internet of Things (IoT) devices seem to be everywhere you look these days. In your own home, you’ll find them in the form of your smart doorbell, digital assistant (Amazon Alexa or Google Home), and other small devices that are connected to your Wi-Fi network.
IoT devices can make our lives easier in many ways, but with the rise of IoT botnet attacks, they’re also complicating our digital security, creating significant vulnerabilities.
What Is an IoT Botnet?
An IoT botnet attack refers to a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack that is carried out using an army of compromised IoT devices. All too often, IoT devices have weak security settings; users of these devices don’t take the proper precautions to protect these accounts because they figure, “Who’s going to hack into my smart speaker?”
Unfortunately, when a large number of IoT devices are compromised, they can be pooled together to carry out massive DDoS attacks that can do serious damage.
The Rise of IoT Botnets
Why are IoT botnets on the rise? A combination of factors can explain this. First, there’s the simple fact that more people use these devices than ever before, so there is a large “pool” for hackers to choose from. Combine this with the lack of security protocol that many of these device users take to protect their information, and it’s quickly becoming known among hackers that these attacks are easy to carry out and highly effective.
How to Protect Yourself From an Attack
Fortunately, these are some security best practices that everybody with IoT devices can follow to avoid becoming a victim of one of these attacks. The first and perhaps most important step is to take the time to secure devices just as you would any other online account.
Change whatever “default” password your gadget came with to something strong and unique. If available, set up multi-factor authentication so that any suspicious login attempts must be approved by you through an email or text message link.
When choosing IoT devices, take time to research companies and only select products with a strong reputation for security. Always make sure any network you connect an IoT device to is secured with a password; never use public wireless networks.
Time to Upgrade Your Hosting Plan?
In addition to taking these precautions to protect against IoT botnets, switching to a dedicated hosting plan is another crucial step many individuals and businesses are making to optimize their information security. A dedicated server host, such as ReliableSite, will also come with standard DDoS protection for added peace of mind. Meanwhile, you’ll have the option to upgrade your account and purchase more protection as needed.
Interested in learning more about dedicated server security and how it can protect you? Contact the ReliableSite team today; we’d be happy to discuss the security features found on our dedicated hosting plans and help you select the plan that’s right for your unique needs and budget.