One aspect of the IoT that has been growing in popularity is vending machines. Vending machines have come a long way from just offering a selection of soft drinks and snacks. They have become increasingly intelligent, offering everything from food and beverages to electronics, and even medical supplies.
In recent news, however, vending machines on a university campus were hijacked, causing chaos across the network. These hijacked vending machines, along with 5,000 other IoT devices, were responsible for causing a slow-down or inaccessibility issue with the university’s network.
The university officials were left no choice but to launch an investigation into the cause of the network slow-down. The investigation pinpointed that the cause of the problem was specifically the intelligent vending machines.
Intelligent vending machines are internet-connected devices that offer users greater flexibility and variety of purchase options. The machines are designed to communicate with the internet to adjust their inventory, track sales, and alert the vendors of the need for restocking, among other benefits.
However, the vending machines’ intelligent features also make them vulnerable to cyberattacks, as demonstrated in the recent incident at the university. Hackers can use the machines to gain access to the university’s network infrastructure, opening up the network to various security risks and slowing it down.
The hijacked vending machines were increasingly becoming a threat to the university’s network, which then affected every other student and staff using the infrastructure. The cybercriminals had managed to use the vending machines as a gateway to access the privileged areas of the network, exploiting any vulnerable points to carry out attacks.
The university took immediate measures to reduce the strain on its network and prevent future hijackings of the vending machines. They deployed firewalls and other cybersecurity measures to control which devices can access the network.
It is important to understand that IoT devices, whether vending machines or any other device, are becoming an essential aspect of businesses and everyday life. However, they come with a lot of risks that need to be addressed.
As we become more reliant on IoT devices, the need to ensure that the devices are secure both from a hardware and software perspective is increasingly important. As consumers, it is our responsibility to ensure that we are buying and using technology with a high level of security and privacy.
In conclusion, the hijacking of vending machines on a university campus is just one example of how IoT devices can inadvertently cause chaos, downtime, and security risks. Companies must put in place robust security measures, starting from the formative stages, to protect these devices from cyberattacks. This is an essential step to ensuring that the full potential of the IoT can be realized while protecting both individuals and businesses from any catastrophic risks.