Your coffee maker, security cameras, and anything else you have linked to the internet might be a security risk.
A recent incident involving the Bosch thermostat model BCC100 shows how important it is to take precautions to ensure the safety of our home-connected devices.
A central security hole in the Bosch thermostat was recently found by the smart home cybersecurity company Bitdefender Labs. Hackers could be able to install malicious software or access the thermostat’s settings because of this vulnerability.
The design of the BCC100 thermostat is the root cause of the issue. A Wi-Fi controller and a core logic controller are both used. The problem is with how these chips talk to one another.
Thermostat updates, including malicious ones, might be sent by an attacker using this vulnerability. As soon as Bitdefender discovered this vulnerability, Bosch immediately began developing a remedy.
Over the years, several “smart” thermostats linked to the internet have disclosed security flaws. Problems with the safety of Google’s Nest thermostats have arisen before. In 2016, it was shown that the USB connection may be used to install malicious firmware. Google has subsequently worked to strengthen the safety of these gadgets.
Another well-known thermostat maker, Honeywell, has had problems with some of their smart thermostats. An attacker might access sensitive information and passwords stored in Honeywell Wi-Fi thermostats.
Among the several flaws discovered in 2016 in Trane’s ComfortLink II thermostats, one enabled unauthorized remote access. Later on, firmware upgrades fixed these problems.
This incident involving the Bosch thermostat should serve as a sobering warning of the security risks associated with smart home technology. You can significantly improve your connected home’s security by being proactive and doing things like upgrading firmware, changing default passwords, being careful about internet access, utilizing firewalls, and selecting secure gadgets. Continue to be well-informed, up-to-date, and secure.
