Tech

Webroot launches IoT toolkit to protect connected home devices

A new layer of defence for protecting connected home devices against cyberattack has been created through Webroot's IoT tools.

Written by Charlie Osborne, Contributing Writer Sept. 1, 2015 at 6:00 a.m. PT

Webroot has launched a set of tools designed to protect IoT devices from online threats.

The Internet of Things (IoT) and networked devices include smart thermostats, self-driving cars, home security system and home lighting, among others. Many of the IoT devices available on the market can be controlled through mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets which has pushed electronics makers to new heights and allowed for more innovative products -- but the moment you connect a device to the Web, you forge a gateway for potential cyberattacks to occur.

Announced on Tuesday, the security firm's IoT Security Toolkit is focused on IoT vendors and integrators in both the consumer and industrial fields who wish to better secure their products in the current cybersecurity space.

According to Webroot, the toolkit offers real-time, cloud-based threat intelligence to "protect the next generation of critical systems against modern malware, zero-day exploits and other external threats and internal vulnerabilities."

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The Webroot IoT Security Toolkit includes:

Device Agents: High performance, low-powered software which detects new and altered files or anomalous conditions, which could imply the presence of malicious code or attacks. This data is collected and added to the Webroot BrightCloud Threat Intelligence Cloud Platform repository.
Threat Intelligence Services: Available through a single API or developer kit, the BrightCloud Threat Intelligence Services can now be integrated into IoT gateways and platforms to block malicious inbound attacks in real-time.
Secure Web Gateway: This cloud-based service inspects and filters all incoming and outgoing traffic between devices and their control system over the internet, with the overall aim of blocking malware before it reaches endpoint devices.

In addition to the launch of the toolkit, John Sirianni has been appointed as the vice president of IoT Strategic Partnerships at Webroot. The executive has accrued over 30 years' experience in the technology and innovation centers, and has previously worked for firms including Carrier IQ, Wind River and Xerox.

Sirianni commented:

"As the world begins to unlock the potential of IoT devices and platforms, cybercriminals are deploying more advanced attacks to hijack critical applications inside edge devices.

Because the Webroot IoT Security Toolkit leverages real-time threat intelligence to protect deployed systems against cyberattacks, solution designers and integrators can meet the mandatory requirements for security and safety systems by ensuring that critical devices and systems operate as expected."

Last week, researchers participating in an IoT village hackathon discovered a number of flaws in the Samsung smart fridge range which could allow attackers to conduct man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks with relative ease -- leaving users vulnerable to data theft and communications surveillance.