25
Aug, 2021

How to protect yourself against cyberattacks with smart home devices and smart home appliances

With the popularity of home automation and smart appliances rising, the question has arisen: Are smart home gadgets and devices really safer than their connected counterparts?

The answer is a resounding “yes.”

According to a recent report from security company Trend Micro, smart home security devices are much more vulnerable than their wired counterparts.

For starters, the security of connected devices depends on the hardware and software inside them, as well as their configuration.

The same can be said for the security posture of connected home appliances.

In fact, Trend Micro says smart home products and devices can be used as cyber weapons against a host of security systems.

In this post, we’re going to break down the latest findings on these and other security issues related to connected devices.

Trend Micro’s report, which was based on analysis of devices sold in 2016 and 2017, found that smart home-connected devices were more likely to be targeted by malicious software and spyware than their non-connected counterparts.

“We found that most of the connected home security products and appliances were targeted by malware and spy software, and more likely than not, were compromised,” the report reads.

“For the most part, connected home devices were susceptible to the same kinds of threats as the connected devices they replaced, such as viruses, trojans, worms, ransomware, and malware-enabled devices.”

The report’s authors noted that the same threats were present for connected home accessories and appliances as well.

“Our analysis found that almost all connected home products were susceptible of the same types of malware and malware threat scenarios, such that some of them were compromised by malware, and some of the accessories and other connected home gadgets were vulnerable to a very similar set of malware threats,” the researchers wrote.

TrendMicro also found that connected home equipment was more vulnerable to being compromised by hackers.

“The devices are less likely to run on an operating system, which is one of the most vulnerable points in terms of cyber security,” Trend Micro’s researchers wrote, “and more likely, to run a subset of malware on them.”

Trend Micro has a wide range of products, including security cameras, thermostats, smart locks, security locks, and a wide array of smart home equipment.

It has also created a dedicated section on its website dedicated to smart home and smart-home-connected security devices.

If you have a connected home, consider protecting your device against cyber attacks.

22
Aug, 2021

How to get your home internet service back from the DDoS attack that crippled the Internet

In an attempt to restore service, the Scottish government is using its powers to force ISPs to provide the Internet service it says is “essential” for the public.

The government says the D3 blackout, which started Dec. 17 and affected a staggering 75% of Scotland’s population, is forcing people to “choose between a life of deprivation and homelessness,” and that “there is no longer any hope” for a smooth transition for many of them.

The DDoS, which was a coordinated effort by Russia, the United States, Ukraine, and others, is being blamed for slowing down parts of the Internet and blocking services, as well as causing widespread disruption to online banking and other services.

But the government is also warning that the attack is being used as a “test case” for what could happen in the future.

The Scottish government said it had issued orders requiring ISPs to reroute traffic in a “preventative manner” to prevent the attacks from spreading.

The Government said the D4 blackout had left “significant economic, social, and political damage to Scotland and the wider UK,” and it was “trying to restore services as quickly as possible.”

“This is a case study for what happens when the internet is shut down,” said the Scottish Government’s Communications Minister Derek Mackay.

“This is not a response to any threat.

This is a response because we cannot take the chance that the next attack could be more sophisticated and more effective.”

The D3 attack was the largest attack on the Internet since the Great Storm of 2013, when it caused massive damage across the United Kingdom.

In a separate incident, on Dec. 9, 2014, Ukraine’s military claimed responsibility for a massive DDoS that affected more than half the country.

It was a cyberattack that took advantage of a flaw in the Tor network, which allows people to cloak their online activity with anonymity, allowing it to evade detection by governments and authorities.

The attack was so powerful that it forced the governments of many European countries to ban the use of the browser.

6
Aug, 2021

How to watch the NBA playoffs online in 2018-19

ESPN has announced the live streaming schedule for the NBA Finals, beginning Thursday.

Here’s the full list of NBA Finals broadcasts:The Finals will be live streamed at www.nba.com and NBA TV.

The stream starts at 8:30 p.m.

ET and will be available on the ESPN app and ESPN Mobile.

The live stream is free for anyone who has an ESPN subscription.

You can also watch it on the Apple TV, Roku, PlayStation Vue, Google Chromecast, Xbox One and Amazon Fire TV devices.

To watch the Finals on Apple TV or Roku, click here and use the ESPN home page to find the correct channel.

To stream the NBA Playoffs on Android devices, go to the NBA app on your Android device and click “Viewers.”

Then, click “Stream.”

You’ll see the NBA playoff schedule.

To check the schedule, click the blue arrow at the top of the schedule and select “Watch Now.”

15
Jul, 2021

Which computer services are free?

The cost of running a desktop computer is rising, with companies like Dell and Dell’s own PCS International arguing that they should pay more for higher-end desktop computers.

And the rise of smartphones and tablets are making it more difficult for people to afford high-end PC hardware, leaving more people with no option but to pay for hardware.

But the latest data from the U.S. Census Bureau suggests that more people are choosing to keep a traditional computer as their primary means of entertainment and work.

The bureau surveyed more than 100,000 households to track consumer spending habits, and found that the number of households that have no computer as a primary form of entertainment has gone up from 19% in 2014 to 31% this year.

The data shows that consumers are increasingly choosing not to buy computers that use the same hardware or processor as a smartphone or tablet.

The survey shows that only 22% of people with a traditional desktop computer say they have no preference for a smartphone, tablet, or other computer that uses a different processor than their computer.

But consumers are also choosing not only to buy cheaper and less powerful computer hardware but also to make the switch to a different kind of entertainment.

Nearly half of those surveyed (46%) said they’d rather not use a smartphone at all, compared with 23% of those who said they wanted to upgrade to a tablet computer.

Nearly one-quarter of those respondents said they want to purchase an HDTV, compared to just 15% of the people who said the same for a desktop PC.

And the survey found that more than half of the respondents who are not consumers who spend money on PCs or buy hardware said they’re less likely to upgrade in the future because of the cost.

More than half (53%) of the non-consumer respondents who said buying a computer for work is a no-no said they would rather not upgrade to another computer, compared, on average, to 20% of consumers who said upgrading would make them less likely.

The Census Bureau found that, on the whole, the percentage of households with a PC as their only means of digital entertainment has been increasing.

And, for those who do choose to keep their computer as the primary means for entertainment, the number is growing even faster.

About a third of those polled said they are not interested in buying a desktop or laptop computer as part of a family.

And nearly half (49%) of those with no preference said they don’t know how to choose an HD TV, compared a year ago.