30th Aug 2017

Iot devices have given users a smarter control on various applications. These devices can connect and communicate with users and can be operated from almost any location in the world provided you have access to Internet. As IoT devices can be managed from remote locations, it is important to maintain their security and also of the network to which they are connected. The recent DDoS attack (of Oct 2016), which took down prominent service providers across US, is believed to be made possible by use of large number of unsecured IoT devices such as cameras, DVRs etc.  So, security of IoT devices should be maintained, specifically to prevent such large scale DDoS attacks.

How to reduce the risk of DDoS attacks?

Use Of Unique Username And Password
A manufacturer should not rely on the end user for securing the device. A unique username and password needs to be set for the device along with a prompt to change these settings as soon as the device is powered on for the first time. The users also need to set strong passwords for the devices to avoid any kind of breach.

Protect Your Device And Servers
A number of monitoring functions should run on the devices to check for any kind of malicious activity from an unknown IP address. This will prevent the bot from accessing your internet and from repeatedly guessing the username and password. Make sure that you update your device and have its security analyzed regularly. Ensure that the server you are running, whether it’s your own or someone else, is secured and properly maintained. The data from the devices should be recognizable and difficult to spoof.

There are a few more things that can be done to prevent your devices from these attacks, which include:

  • Users should turn off remote access to the IoT devices and limit the devices that can access your network.
  • Get details of the network settings and its chain of communication with the devices from the connectivity supplier.
  • The manufacturers should make sure that the device has sufficient DDoS mitigation capabilities.
  • Users should learn how to scan their own networks for any security flaws. There are different tools which can
  • help them in finding loopholes before the attackers do.

By securing the network and devices, the users not only prevent themselves from the potential DDoS attacks, but can also improve their device’s performance.

For network security solutions, contact Centex Technologies at (855) 375 – 9654.