Internet security in a post-safety age

The internet is a powerful thing. It can spawn ideas, create movements, influence elections, and create communities. The internet can be used for great things. There is no doubt that the way we communicate and receive information has been shaped by this network of networks. We rely so much on the Internet that we take it for granted. We have the internet on devices that were not envisioned with the internet on our phones, on our games consoles, on our TVs. We have devices that were designed specifically to access the internet, our iPads and Chromebooks. We have devices that have had the internet tastelessly tacked on. Our fridges, our light switches, our doorbells have all become part of the internet. But there is a different side of this. We opted-in to those choices, nobody is making you get a smart fridge (...yet). However, in today's world there is another side of the internet revolution. The revolution of devices that are networked against our will.

Our Blu-ray players are networked in the name of DRM, our game consoles need an update to work, our games need an update to play offline. Recently a security blog known as Krebs on Security was attacked by a Botnet composed primarily of DVRs, routers, and IP cameras. These pieces of equipment are notable for their lack of user control. Can you upgrade your DVR's firmware? No, that's your cable providers job. I cannot even update my router; Verizon has blocked me from forcing it to check for updates from Verizon. These missteps may have been "security" features in the past. To make it harder to install a custom firmware on your router, or prevent you from getting free cable. Now they are being abused to censor a security blog.

This is a problem that will take time to solve. I think the best question to ask yourself when buying connected devices is: If this was the only thing between my house and a criminal, would I trust it? Because with the Internet of Things it often is. So before order that cheap Wi-Fi light switch, remember that someone else could easily be switching your lights for you. That someone could also be using that light switch to censor a foe. All for the ease of not having to get out of bed to turn off your lights. This is the world we love to live in. So keep it safe, for everyone sake.

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