How Much Do Your IoT Devices Know About Normal People?

IoT Devices and Your Privacy: How Much Do They Really Know About You?

Internet of Things, or IoT, gadgets have proliferated in a lot of homes as the globe becomes increasingly linked. Our lives have become simpler and more convenient thanks to these gadgets, which range from voice-activated assistants to smart thermostats. These advantages do, however, raise questions about security and privacy. How much do Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets know about average people? is one of those most important topics. We'll delve into this issue in-depth in this post, talking about the kinds of information that IoT devices gather, potential safety and confidentiality threats, and what people can do to safeguard themselves.

Introduction

Many residences now have IoT devices as a necessary component. By tying commonplace items to the internet, these gadgets aim to improve the convenience and ease of our lives. Although there are many advantages to these gadgets, there are also worries about the volume of data they gather and the possible threats to security and privacy.

What Data Do IoT Devices Collect?

IoT devices have the ability to gather a variety of data on its users. This includes details on user behaviour, geographic information, and even biometric information. For instance, an intelligent thermostat might compile information on when users are at home and their preferred temperature ranges. The information people say and when they say it may be recorded by a voice-activated assistant.

How is this Data Used?

IoT devices' data collection is put to a number of uses. The most frequent applications include:

• enhancing the device's operation;

• offering customized recommendations and services.

• Engaging in research and development

• Selling data to outside businesses

Although these uses might appear innocent, there are worries about the privacy and security dangers that could arise.

Risks to Privacy and Security

The collecting of data by Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets comes with a number of hazards. These include:

• Hackers obtaining unauthorised access to data;

• Companies or individuals abusing data;

• Wide tracking of user behaviour;

• Government surveillance

Given the highly confidential nature of the information that IoT devices frequently collect, these dangers are especially concerning.

What Can Individuals Do to Protect Themselves?

When using IoT devices, people can take a number of precautions to safeguard their security and privacy. The most crucial ones are:

• Recognising the information their devices are collecting;

• Carefully reading privacy regulations and terms of service;

• Using passwords that are secure and two-factor authentication;

• Keeping their gadgets up to date with the most recent security patches;

• Thinking about the use of technologies that improve privacy like virtual private network (VPNs).

#1: Smart Speakers Store Readings

An NPR and Edison Research's poll found that 35% of Americans aged 18 and older have a smart speaker such an Amazon Echo or Alphabet Nest. How several of them are aware that it could be eavesdropping, though?

The Echo smart speaker from Amazon records everything a user says to it, even when they accidentally activate it. To listen to the recordings, users only need to browse through their voice histories in the app's settings. One individual discovered a large number of the soundbites Alexa had secretly recorded, and he made them into a song. The recordings are kept by Amazon in addition to being stored in the app.

Amazon has even given over recordings used as proof of violent marital conflicts in a few significant murder cases.

Amazon argues that it uses the recordings it has gathered to train its algorithm. Translation? The videos are accessible to Amazon employees in person. Many individuals still consider this practise to be an invasion of their privacy, even if the great majority of Echo contacts are routine. This is especially true considering that smart speakers are typically utilised in homes. Amazon's Echo speaker stores soundbites in addition to thermostat settings and the number of times a user turns on or off the lights.

#2: Smart Watches Guess Fertility Levels

The Apple Watch records heart rate, cardiac fitness, noise levels in the environment, and hard falls in addition to information on how long someone exercises. Additionally, it can monitor users' sleeping patterns and menstrual cycles, determining when ovulation occurs based on changes in body temperature. The majority of users are cognizant of these advantages and take advantage of them.

However, this information may become public if there is a cybersecurity compromise. In 2021, information from over 61 million fitness tracker records from Fitbit and Apple was made public. This information included names, birthdates, heights, weights, gender, and location. Within a few hours, security teams resolved the problem. The incident serves as a warning that hacking and negligent behaviour can exploit personal devices and their data, and that sharing health information may be best done in a more cautious manner.

#3: Smart TVs Can Watch People Back

Users of smart TVs can stream on-demand material, browse social media, and view YouTube videos on these internet-connected IoT gadgets. They are really simply computers with TV branding.

When smart TV maker Vizio paid a $17 million judgement for tracking its users' viewing patterns in 2018, "watching TV" took on a terrifying new connotation. It had been keeping track of when and what users viewed, then selling that information to marketers and data brokers.

Vizio now pledges to obtain consumers' consent before tracking their viewing patterns or gathering demographic information, but how many other makers of smart TVs are secretly doing the same thing?

#4: Smart Toothbrushes Affect Insurance Rates

The IoT-connected toothbrush from dental insurance provider Beam encourages people to practise improved oral care. It monitors how users take care of their teeth, including whether they brush twice daily for two minutes, and rewards those who do well.

Points can be redeemed by users for items like toothpaste and fresh brush heads. Naturally, Beam Insurance benefits from having healthier clients because it may offer lower dental insurance premiums to those who brush more frequently.

#5: Smart Cameras Record More Than Videos

A well-liked home security system is Ring. It records the user's name, postal address, phone number, email address, and information on the Wi-Fi network in addition to keeping track of visitors to the user's home. For up to two months, it keeps films and pictures on Amazon's servers.

The Ring website also uses web server logs, web beacons, and cookies for advertising purposes. Ring does not overtly sell data, but according to its privacy policy, it is permitted to share data with companies who offer services for them, such as marketers. To put it another way, it most likely gathers data and sells it to data aggregators so they can produce targeted adverts.

Making Informed Decisions

Which party, the user or the business, gains the most from smart devices? Most Internet of Things (IoT) devices send information back to the parent corporation for market research, but some go too far by collecting sensitive data or doing so without permission. Possessing a smart device typically entails sharing data.

The corporate strategy is to give up a modest level of privacy in exchange for comfort or lower costs. The users themselves are frequently a component of the final product if a service is free or appears to be too good to be true. The person decides if that is acceptable.

Conclusion

IoT devices have many advantages, but they also give rise to security and privacy concerns. People need to be conscious of the risks and take precautions to protect themselves as increasing amounts of technology become integrated into our homes. People can profit from IoT devices while minimising the risks by being alert and taking preventative action.

FAQs

1. What forms of data are gathered by IoT devices? IoT devices have the ability to gather a variety of data, including biometric information, location data, and details on user behaviour.
2. What are a few of the dangers posed by Internet of Things devices? IoT devices provide a number of hazards, such as unauthorised availability of data by hackers, intrusive tracking of user behaviour, and government agency surveillance.

3. How can users of IoT devices safeguard themselves? By being aware of the data that their devices are collecting, studying the terms of service carefully, using strong passwords as well as 2-factor authentication, keeping their devices up up to date with the latest security patches, and thinking about using technology that improves privacy like virtual private networks (VPNs), people can protect himself or herself.

4. Can gadgets from the Internet of Things be used to monitor people?