Devices are quickly becoming outdated in this digital era. Often the gadgets become outdated before becoming outlived their usefulness. Today, the world is embracing the Internet of Things (IoT) at a rapid pace and hence smart devices are being witnessed everywhere. The devices being used in IoT bring convenience and connectivity, but these also come with significant risks and especially when the devices become obsolete as well as unsupported.
Device comes with a lifecycle and eventually they reach to a point when it don’t receive updates or support from respective manufacturers. This means end-of-life status and no more software updates. Devices are thereafter left vulnerable becomes easy targets for cybercriminals.
Now, the question arises as to why cybercriminals would bother hacking such discontinued devices. If hackers gain control of such devices, they can find a gateway to larger networks or sensitive information. Compromised devices can be used to spy on individuals, steal data or launch attacks on other systems.
Old and unsupported devices are attractive to hackers due to no security updates. Some of the common targets are outdated cameras, routers and smart locks. The number of IoT devices globally is estimated to be around 17 billion and this means the risk is to be amplified. It is learned that a third of such devices become obsolete in the next few years. Billions of devices could be left exposed and may create a massive potential for cyber threats.
The vulnerable devices often end up being used as part of botnets. Botnets are networks of compromised devices which are controlled by hackers to carry out their commands. A good example worth mentioning here is the popular Mozi botnet. It hijacked hundreds of thousands of IoT devices and these were used for data theft, malware distribution and other malicious activities. It was dismantled in 2023. However, the threat still persists as new botnets can easily form using other outdated devices.
