In recent years, cars, printers, medical devices, baby video monitors and children s toys have been discovered to be vulnerable to hackers. Now add one more smart, connected gadget to the list.
Light bulbs.
Researchers at Context Information Security have spotted a security weakness in a wifi enabled, energy efficient LED light bulb that can be remotely controlled with a smartphone. Context said the problem was detected in bulbs made by LIFX, which has since fixed the vulnerability.
The bulb issue reflects the growing concern many security researchers have about the billions of ordinary objects that are being computerized and connected as part of the so-called Internet of Things.
It is clear that in the dash to get onto the IoT bandwagon, security is not being prioritized as highly as it should be in many connected devices, Michael Jordon, Context s research director, noted in a press release.
Illustration by Rick Nease/MCT archives
