Anti-malware and mobile security firm BullGuard has launched ‘BullGuard IoT Scanner’ – a free tool for consumers that reveals connected devices that may be vulnerable to hackers.
The Scanner, said the firm, allows anyone to quickly scan to see if their smart devices or network, registered on search engine Shodan, were accessible to hackers. If a user’s smart device was flagged as being vulnerable, details about the specific security issues were provided.
“The Internet of Things has moved rapidly from an early adopter market into the mainstream, but in doing so has introduced a range of new security concerns for consumers,” said Paul Lipman, Chief Executive Officer, BullGuard.“ We’ve made an important first step towards addressing these issues with IoT Scanner, a tool that allows anyone to check if smart devices in their home are secure.”
A recent BullGuard survey of over 6,000 UK consumers underlined the scale of the problem and the concerns that many people had about the security of their smart devices. At least 66 per cent of survey respondents said they were highly concerned about the security of connected devices, while 72 per cent did not know how to secure them properly.
BullGuard’s IoT Scanner uses data from Shodan.io, the first search engine for internet connected devices, to scan for vulnerable smart devices and presents results in a straightforward way that anyone can understand. This includes security cameras, baby monitors, Smart TVs and wearables that may be visible to hackers. If accessible devices are found, they are flagged along with details of potential vulnerabilities. An email report of scan results can help to diagnose problems further, and users can share notification of successful scans with friends and family to encourage them to protect their own smart devices.
BullGuard has also created a free, downloadable IoT guide for consumers, which contains further information on IoT security along with help and advice on how to ensure connected devices are not visible to hackers.
BullGuard IoT Scanner is a web-based application available on any platform and all major browsers.
Image Credit: BullGuard