Internet of Things

The Mozilla Foundation made what amounts to a "naughty list" of products that lack security.

National

Is Your Holiday Gift Spying On You? A Guide Rates The Security Of Smart Devices

5:31pm December 02, 2018

by Emma Bowman

Before you start making that wish list, you might want to check another list: The Mozilla Foundation made a "Privacy Not Included" guide to help shoppers be more proactive against security threats.

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Jamie Summitt, shown holding her infant son, Noah, was alarmed when she noticed her baby video monitor moving without anyone in the family controlling it.

National

S.C. Mom Says Baby Monitor Was Hacked; Experts Say Many Devices Are Vulnerable

8:13pm June 05, 2018

by Camila Domonoske

Jamie Summitt was eating dinner with her family when her baby monitor started to move. Which was weird, because everyone who was supposed to have control of the camera was in the room with her.

National

This 'Gray Hat' Hacker Breaks Into Your Car — To Prove A Point

6:13am February 23, 2018

by Laura Sydell

Everything from cars to thermostats is being connected to the Internet, raising security concerns. Samy Kamkar, who once hacked MySpace, hopes exposing vulnerabilities will make these things safer.

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Juicero says its $400 machine cold-presses juice out of packets sold via subscription. Then a Bloomberg News video showed people didn't actually need the press to get juice from the packets.

Health & Safety

Juicero CEO Says Luxury Juicer Is 'Much More' Than Juice; Internet Is Unimpressed

3:26pm April 21, 2017

by Jason Slotkin

The company says its $400 machine cold-presses juice out of packets sold via subscription. Then a Bloomberg News video showed people didn't actually need the press to get juice from the packets.

The We-Vibe classic is one of several Bluetooth-enabled We-Vibe products that can be paired with an app and controlled remotely. Customers alleged that the company that makes the vibrators was secretly tracking their use.

National

Vibrator Maker To Pay Millions Over Claims It Secretly Tracked Use

3:30pm March 14, 2017

by Camila Domonoske

The makers of the We-Vibe, which can be paired with an app, don't admit any wrongdoing. But they will pay $3.75 million after allegations that the app was collecting "highly sensitive information."

The Nest thermostat is an Internet-connected device. Security technologist Bruce Schneier says that while Internet-enabled devices have immense promise, they are vulnerable to hacking.

Despite Its Promise, The Internet Of Things Remains Vulnerable

7:27pm December 05, 2016

by NPR Staff

There is currently no government regulation around the Internet of things, and Security technologist Bruce Schneier fears it will take a disaster for that to change.

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Journalist Andrew McGill wanted to see if it was possible to hack a virtual toaster, after major servers were downed by connected appliances. He said it took less than an hour for hackers to find it.

National

An Experiment Shows How Quickly The Internet Of Things Can Be Hacked

6:46pm November 01, 2016

by NPR Staff

Reporter Andrew McGill set up a fake Internet-connected toaster to see how long it would take hackers to find it. He thought it would take days, but to his surprise it was under attack within minutes.

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National

Encryption May Hurt Surveillance, But Internet Of Things Could Open New Doors

4:43pm February 02, 2016

by Alina Selyukh

Law enforcement and intelligence officials warn that encrypted communication makes investigation venues "go dark." A study sees other avenues for data collection through newly connected devices.

Woman leaving house with family checking smartphone.

The World Loves The Smartphone. So How About A Smart Home?

3:23pm February 25, 2015

by Alexis Madrigal

The ultimate smart-home vision is a home that basically runs itself, from coffee makers to washing machines. But we're not there yet: The real world is a hard place for little computers to operate in.

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A DJI Phantom 2 flying camera is presented at the media event prior to the International CES show opening in Las Vegas.

CES 2014: Toothbrush? Bed? Car? Put Some Internet On It

11:18am January 07, 2014

by NPR Staff

The Consumer Electronics Show is the tech industry's annual electronics showcase in Las Vegas, where companies are showing off their latest and greatest gadgets, like Internet-connected toothbrushes (ideal for hygiene-concerned helicopter parents) and cars that come equipped with a 4G cell connection.

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