Warnings about the risks involving smart speakers, and the extensive number of virtual assistants available on the market today, are not new. There have been cases in the past of invasion of privacy. But the issue that needs to be clarified goes beyond that. Because the problem of Internet of Things (IoT) security is broader.
Every different gadget you connect to the internet becomes a potential vulnerability. It's as if each one unlocks one of the windows that protect our home. And without us even realising it.
So be careful what you ask for virtual assistant at home
A virtual assistant, like Alexa and Google Assistant, becomes more useful the more apps it has and data it has access to. And that's the problem. Any user's personal information that has been shared with a device could potentially be at risk. These apps could be finance or retail apps.
In 2019, cyber attacks on IoT devices increased by 300%. There were billions of incidents, according to international reports.
Cyber security researchers have discovered ways for a hacker to access a user's voice history and obtain personal information. They can also silently install or remove skills on the user's account. An attack could even create a bridge to surveillance technology in a home.
How does the invasion happen? Again, with a click on a malicious link that looks trustworthy.
The technical specifics of how they occur are not that important to most users. What they need is to understand how to stay safe from the risk of such attacks, ensuring that not only their data, but also their home, is not left open and vulnerable.
Do this:
- Avoid unknown applications. Do not install on your smart speaker.
- Be careful about the confidential information you share with the smart speaker, such as passwords and bank accounts.
- Read the information regarding the application you are installing. Nowadays anyone can create virtual assistant apps. An app can perform actions and get information. So find out about the app before you install it and check what permissions it needs. If it can't be trusted, don't use it.
Devices like this are placed in our homes and can hear what we say, monitoring our habits and our routine. It is therefore worth rethinking the way we use them and protect our family and our home.
By Dirceu Lippi