The list of hackable items of concern in a home or business just went up, as experts at this year’s Def Con showed off vulnerabilities in both new and old technology. From the fax machines of former years to today’s Amazon Echo, these transmitting devices can serve as points of entry for malicious attacks and should be a part of your company’s cybersecurity plans.
The item that is getting the most press is one that may lie dormant and forgotten in a back room: the fax machine. An article in Computer Weekly discusses the risks exposed at this year’s Def Con regarding faxes, which are often still used in the medical fields. The research by CheckPoint suggests that fax machines should be secured by putting them on separate network segments, for example. “It is critical that organisations protect themselves against these possible attacks by updating their fax machines with the latest patches and separating them from other devices on their networks. It is a powerful reminder that in the current, complex fifth-generation attack landscape, organisations cannot overlook the security of any part of their corporate networks,” Yaniv Balmas, group manager, security research at Check Point told Computer Weekly.
Other items hacked at Def Con included the Amazon Echo, voting machines, police body cameras and even voicemail.
Sources:
https://slate.com/technology/2018/08/def-con-hackers-terrifying-technology-vulnerabilities.html
