EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:

A new study published by TraQline reports that smart products exist in the homes of 69% of consumers. As people search for means of conserving energy, reducing demands on their time, and home security monitoring, the adoption of smart technology products has accelerated at breakneck speed. Nearly 30 million smart devices are expected to be sold by the end of 2019.

Of those polled in the TraQline survey, 37% indicated that device security is a concern. Smart thermostats are the No.1 smart device on consumers’ 2019 wishlist, but several private citizens have recently come forward to say that their thermostat or other smart systems were hacked into.

Google, the parent company for smart thermostat Nest, asserts that two-factor verification would have likely prevented these hiccups.

Nonetheless, many people remain uneasy, and appraisals of device security vary widely. According to Yahoo Finance,“The state of smart-home security should be [considered] embarrassing.” In early 2018, a team at Ben-Gurion University in Israel demonstrated that most store-bought smart technology systems can be compromised in less than half an hour using frighteningly elementary techniques. These security deficiencies may leave IoT devices vulnerable to botnets and malware.

An open letter signed by 11 groups attempts to advocate for minimum security standards within IoT. The signers call for encrypted communications, a uniform system for automatic security updates after sale, and consistency in responding to reports regarding vulnerabilities.

Gaining near complete consumer confidence will take time, but with dedicated efforts will likely net substantial corporate and private gains.

Learn more at Phys.org.