By Tom Brewster, 23 Jun 2014

 

No doubt many of The Reg’s readers are tired of the term “the Internet of Things”. It is both a nebulous term and a vague idea. What it attempts to encapsulate is the masses of networks of automated machines that didn’t traditionally have connectivity, working to manage the environment around them, supposedly for the benefit of everyone.

Typical examples are fridges that notify users when something’s not right with the groceries inside, smart energy systems that manage heating to maximise efficiency and a toothbrush that reports oral hygiene habits to dentists.

 It’s a brave new world, one rife with possibility for businesses hoping to make money from things that weren’t profitable before they were able to interact with the internet. The problem with giving objects IP addresses, however, is that they become exploitable. And in the world of embedded devices, if hackers hit them, they might be able to cause serious damage.

 

The Register/ full read here/ http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/06/23/hold_interthreat/