World IoT Day: reminders on security and interoperability

World IoT Day, which fell on April 9, was an open invitation to the Internet of Things (IoT) community to set up an activity on what IoT is and what it means in everyday life for all of us.

ByteSnap released a guide to IoT protocols and standards ahead of World IoT Day. The guide covers key IoT standards like Zigbee, Thread, and Matter, as well as essential communication protocols such as MQTT, CoAP, and HTTP. The company, which provides electronics design and software services, noted that IoT device standardisation is essential to ensuring good interoperability, security, and performance.

"Without these standards, we risk a fragmented IoT landscape where devices from different manufacturers struggle to communicate and work together effectively.

"Also, inconsistencies in communication protocols and security measures can lead to potential vulnerabilities and hinder the overall performance and reliability of IoT systems," the company said in a blog post. 

Said Darren Guccione, CEO and Co-Founder, Keeper Security: "IoT devices, such as connected refrigerators, smart thermostats and smart door locks, can provide great benefits, but also pose cybersecurity risks, including creating an easy entry point and tool for cybercriminals. Because smart devices connect to the Internet, they are exposed to cyber threats that can compromise the device. 

"To protect yourself, your devices and your home network, security risks such as weak authentication, lack of encryption, out-of-date software, data privacy concerns and an increased attack surface, all need to be addressed.

"With any smart home tech, users should always change the default passwords, set privacy settings when and wherever possible, avoid using the wifi password provided on the manufacturer’s box and look into buying firewalls capable of filtering outbound traffic. We also recommend that users regularly check for software updates that provide important security upgrades and fixes. Finally, ensure that your WiFi password is high strength and is changed frequently to prevent bad actors from accessing it.

"When it comes to smart tech security where multiple devices are interconnected and often linked to sensitive personal information, using a password manager is a proactive step toward bolstering your defences. It addresses common security pitfalls related to weak passwords and simplifies the management of credentials across various smart devices, contributing to a more robust and secure digital ecosystem."

Eseye, an integrated cellular IoT connectivity solutions provider, marked World IoT Day with the new Hera 200, the smallest router the company has produced to date. This entry-level IoT router has been designed to simplify IoT device connectivity to customer systems and the cloud, ensuring that network connections are reliable, and data transfer is secure and resilient.

“The widespread adoption of globally deployed IoT devices, from smart technologies to life-saving equipment, requires high uptime and low maintenance to deliver the best user experience,” said Jon Darley, Director of Things at Eseye. 

“Unfortunately, connectivity is often cited as a major challenge for many users of IoT devices and the Hera 200 series router helps to overcome this issue by providing a cost-effective, compact and reliable solution that delivers near 100% connectivity.”

Hashtag: #IOT, #IOTDAY