Gradually, more and more things are being connected to the internet. Twenty years ago, only your desktop computer was connected to the internet and it had to be plugged in with a cable. With the onset of wireless technology, laptops and mobile phones were soon advertising connectivity. The original E-readers had to have their E-books delivered via cable from another internet-connected device but, on later models, you could browse webpages – at first charmingly presented in E-ink. Games consoles and televisions are connected to the internet and smart technology is making its presence felt in more unexpected areas of the home – the heating system, the curtains, the refrigerator and even the kettle – but how secure is this internet-of-things?

The Web and the Internet

The World Wide Web is a mess of connections. We navigate it from our browsers using search engines and, increasingly, social media platforms to view web pages hosted on servers that could be on the other side of the world. However, it is not just servers that are accessible through the web. There are millions of ‘devices’ that also form part of the internet. Perhaps you find it convenient to have your printer or your webcam connected to the internet? If you have no security, no password, a hacker could take control of your device.

Easier than you Think

Browsing the internet for unsecured devices is a lot easier than you might think. There are search engines such as Shodan freely available that allow you to do precisely that. Since Shodan’s launch in 2009, its users have discovered lots of unsecured ‘devices’: printers and cameras are the tip of the iceberg – how about the controls of a nuclear power plant?

Securing your Devices

If you are concerned about the security of the devices in your home or business, start setting some secure access passwords. One device you may not have thought of as insecure is more important than all the others. The first thing any web-crawler looking for connected devices is likely to come across is your Wi-Fi router. If you make this point secure, then hackers won’t be able to access the connected items in your home. Many Wi-Fi routers offer some measure of security, but it is uncommon for people outside the tech industry to think ‘I must secure my router!’ when they are setting up a Wi-Fi system. Perhaps the onus should be on the manufacturers to make sure that security features are included and must be set in order to enable operation?

A Career in Smart Technology

If you are interested in smart technology, have you considered a career in the industry? At People with Energy, we partner with firms that are looking for experienced staff to work in the development and roll-out of these cutting-edge products. 

Check out our smart technology job vacancies and, if you see something you are interested in, send your CV to cvs@peoplewithenergy.co.uk.

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