Security Architecture, Endpoint/Device Security, IoT, Endpoint/Device Security, Endpoint/Device Security, Endpoint/Device Security

BullGuard predicts nearly 200 million connected devices could be exposed to hackers

The latest data from BullGuard suggests the recent Mirai-based DDoS attack could be just the tip of the iceberg.

To date, over 100,000 unique IPs have been scanned by Bulguard, and though just 4.6 percent revealed vulnerabilities, the scale of the Internet of Things that makes this figure concerning.

Roughly four billion connected devices in the world would equate to almost 185 million vulnerable devices today. What's more, experts predict around 50 billion connected devices by 2020.

It's a stark warning for both device manufacturers and service providers – the rise of the Internet of Things is upon us, and cyber-criminals now have a platform from which to launch coordinated attacks on an unprecedented scale.

“Even though the Internet of Things is in its relative infancy, this attack shows how just a small proportion of vulnerable devices can cause real concern,” said Paul Lipman, CEO at consumer security company, BullGuard. “We're fortunate that this incident was relatively benign, but it is a timely reminder that security cannot be an afterthought in this emerging market. We would urge people to be vigilant and take the necessary steps to ensure that basic security measures are in place,” Lipman concluded.

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