10 Basic Steps to follow to secure IoT Devices
IoT is a buzzword in the market today. Still, most IoT devices are insecure. Most basic issues are still found on IoT devices. Some of the basic security issues include the use of weak passwords, unattended devices, bad configurations, etc. This article covers the10 Basic Steps to follow to secure IoT Devices by the common user of IoT.
| Sr. No. | Things to do |
| 1. | Never set easy passwords on IoT Devices and change them regularly. Password strength must follow best practices associated with password complexity. This is the most difficult task as humans are not able to remember difficult passwords, but still, this is the panacea to mitigate most of the security issues. |
| 2. | Always purchase IoT devices from reputable vendors. Avoid cheap IoT products from the market. Cheap IoT devices may not follow best practices in developing the product. Hence it is advisable to purchase IoT devices from vendors who have a good track record in security. |
| 3. | Try not to use IoT devices on the public internet. An attacker may intercept your requests and extract sensitive data if the channel is not encrypted. At least never performs a transaction that involves an exchange of sensitive data that includes authentication. |
| 4. | Always change the default password at the time of the first authentication. This is the most basic step to secure devices from bad people. |
| 5. | Always update IoT devices for the latest versions. The most obvious but very effective method to enhance the security of IoT devices. |
| 6. | Try to provide minimum personal information to IoT devices. You don't know when those details may be public if some leaks happen. |
| 7. | If wireless interfaces such as Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, etc. are not needed, they should be switched off automatically. |
| 8. | If IoT devices do not transmit data via using encrypted channels, enable it if available. |
| 9. | Configure best practices guidelines for the IoT Devices. Follow guidelines released by the vendor to set up the device. |
| 10. | Must know all IoT devices connected to your mobile devices. Map those devices and regularly monitor configurations of those devices. |
Conclusion
User awareness is a great tool for securing the whole ecosystem of IoT devices. If a user follows basic security hygiene that includes a strong password and regular updates, one study found that 99 percent of hacking events may be avoided.
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Disclaimer: This tutorial is for educational purpose only. Individual is solely responsible for any illegal act.
Indeed, user awareness is a great tool, and the most important one too. It is the first step toward creating a secure ecosystem for any IoT network.