UK Information Commissioner’s Office warns individuals to protect themselves when using IoT devices

The UK Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) warns individuals to protect themselves when using Internet of Things (IoT) devices (such as baby monitors, music systems, and photo or document storage), as they can be accessed online and are at risk of revealing users’ personal details. The ICO notes that security shortcomings in IoT devices can allow criminals to use search engines to locate vulnerable devices and then gain access to them. Several recommendations are made for users, such as: researching the security of a product before buying it, making sure that the router is secure, changing passwords and usernames from default, and using the two-steps identification options, if available.