smart home

Duck and Cyber: Berkeley Report Imagines Dark, Technology Driven Futures

In-brief: technology advances including the growth of the Internet of Things will make cybersecurity a top concern for individuals and governments, enabling a variety of futures – some sunnier than others, according to a report from UC Berkeley and the Hewlett Foundation.

Government Data Authorities do Privacy Sweep of IoT Devices

  In-brief: Federal data protection authorities from 29 countries including the U.S. and Canada have turned their collective attention to The Internet of Things in an annual “privacy sweep” that is looking at connected devices including personal health products.

UL Charges for Cyber Standards, Draws Scrutiny

In-brief: Product testing firm Underwriters Laboratories drew scrutiny by charging for copies of new standards for connected devices. But security experts say the new UL standards are poised to have a big impact – especially in industries like medicine and critical infrastructure. 

Gee Whiz! Connected Hotel Room Controls Vulnerable to Hacking

In-brief: security researcher Matthew Garrett of the firm COREOS found that software-based lighting controls in his London hotel room, which had replaced mechanical light switches, could be easily hacked, giving him the ability to control lighting in any room in the facility.

Update: Smart Toys Leak Info on Kids, Families

In-brief: research by the security firm Rapid7 has uncovered security flaws in new, interactive “smart toys” by Fisher Price and other toy makers that could divulge personal information related to children and their families. Editor’s note: this story was updated to include comments from Mark Stanislav of Rapid7. PFR Feb 2, 2016.