Smart Refrigerators Are More Risky Than You Realize

Technology has evolved so much over the years, most people and organizations now rely on it daily. Many electronics available today have smart capabilities, which means they can connect to other devices. While this function can simplify some aspects of life, IoT devices may also pose a security risk to a user’s network.

One of these devices is a refrigerator. Unfortunately, many people are unaware that a smart fridge can act as an entry point for cyber attackers. Learn why a smart refrigerator is riskier than you might think.

Smart Refrigerator Could Act as a Gateway to Your Network

The threat of smart fridges being hacked is not new. If any home appliance is compromised, it can act as a gateway for a cybercriminal to access your entire network. This can cause massive headaches. When a hacker has access to all of the devices on the same Wi-Fi network as your smart fridge, they can spread viruses and malware to each of them.

For example, cybercriminals have used smart fridges as an entry point to access a security camera and spy on people in their homes. Such refrigerators are part of the 100,000 devices that were compromised in late 2013. Proofpoint, the security firm that identified the attack, said that over 750,000 spam messages were sent. They also stated that more than 25 percent of the malicious emails came from devices other than a desktop computer or a laptop.

Do Hackers Really Target Smart Refrigerators?

Hackers can target any IoT device, even smart fridges. While the chance of someone hacking a person’s refrigerator is low, it can happen. Usually, cybercriminals focus on other electronic systems, such as security cameras or a network, but any IoT device can be at risk.