ITS Blog

Of All Things, the Internet of Things!

Published:
Rebecca Gorman


Of All Things, the Internet of Things!


Welcome back! It’s SPRING SEMESTER. Over the holidays, you probably got new tech gadgets like smart TVs, cell phones, watches and tablets. These internet-connected devices, also known as the Internet of Things (IoT), make our lives a lot easier, but they also require us to share more information than ever before. While the convenience is nice, the safety isn’t; the security of your devices, and the information contained within them, isn’t always a guarantee.


Here are some tips recommended by The National Cybersecurity and Communications Integration Center (NCCIC) that you can use to keep your Internet of Things safe and secure:


  1. Use strong passwords. “Wi-fight the inevitable” is a better password than something like “dog.” Hackers can easily guess dictionary words, so you’re better off using a password that’s tougher to crack. Use a combination of different characters -- numbers, symbols, capital letters, and lower-case letters -- to build the strength of your password.

  2. Evaluate your security settings. It’s important to thoroughly examine the security settings on all your devices. Don’t erroneously enable: enabling certain features just for the sake of convenience can leave you at risk for information theft. When you install new software, reevaluate your settings to make sure they protect you the way you want to be protected.

  3. Ensure you have up-to-date software. Patches are updates issued by manufacturers to fix discovered issues within their devices’ software. Verify validity of and apply relevant patches ASAP to get the most current security.

  4. Connect with caution. Once your device is connected to the internet, it’s also connected to several other computers. Don’t fall victim to a hack attack: use discretion when you connect to Wi-Fi networks.


Questions? For more information, contact the Help Desk at helpdesk@binghamton.edu or 607-777-6420, or visit https://www.binghamton.edu/its/about/organization/security/.


Source: https://www.us-cert.gov/ncas/current-activity/2018/12/28/Securing-New-Devices