Security firm Cloudflare is turning its attention to the growing threat presented by the world’s vast population of connected devices.
Security experts have long warned that the connected devices that make up the so-called internet of things are way too vulnerable to hack attacks. These gadgets—fridges, fitness trackers, thermostats, sleep monitors, your next piece of jewelry—are like the zombie soldiers of the internet, often poorly secured and easily vulnerable to the will of hackers. Small medical devices and industrial control systems can be manipulated to do serious harm, and smart home appliances can be hijacked to steal personal data or even spy on their owners, as owners of smart TVs vulnerable to CIA spy software recently learned from a WikiLeaks report.