UPDATED 10:09 EDT / NOVEMBER 21 2016

NEWS

Gifts that keep on taking: Intel Security reveals most hackable devices of 2016

When it comes to Christmas gadget shopping, most of us are on the lookout for the coolest or weirdest-looking devices around, but few consider how “hackable” a gift might be.

In the second edition of its “McAfee Most Hackable Holiday Gifts” list, Intel Security has the answers. The chipmaker’s security unit asked consumers what devices they were planning to purchase during the holiday, then what they knew about securing those devices.

The findings show that the average consumer “lacks awareness about the potential risks associated with emerging connected devices, such as drones (20 percent), children’s toys (15 percent), virtual reality tech (15 percent) and pet gifts (11 percent).”

Here’s Intel Security’s list of the five most hackable devices in 2016:

intel-security-holiday-hackable-internet-connected-gifts-100694754-large

1. Laptops and PCs

While laptops and personal computers might make for great gifts, it seems they’re as insecure as ever. Even worse, threats such as malware and ransomware are no longer limited to Windows devices. As such, Intel Security urges users to keep their operating system and software up to date no matter what system they’re running, and to install reliable security software.

2. Smartphones and tablets

Some 52 percent of consumers said they are interested in buying such a device this holiday season, but they’re all just as vulnerable to malware as PCs are. This “could result in personal and financial information being stolen,” Intel Security says. It warns that users need to stay safe by updating their apps regularly, using a strong PIN code or password, and only using secure Wi-Fi when they access smart home apps to avoid putting their homes at risk.

3. Media players and streaming sticks

“Consumers can unknowingly invite a cybercriminal into their living room by failing to update their device,” Intel warns.

4. Smart home automation devices and apps

The survey found that 79 percent of consumers begin using connected devices as soon as they purchase them, but only 42 percent actually take any steps to secure them.

“Unsurprisingly, connected devices remain high on holiday wish lists this year. What is alarming is that consumers remain unaware of what behaviors pose a security risk when it comes to new devices,” Gary Davis, chief consumer security evangelist at Intel Security, said in a statement. “Consumers are often eager to use their new gadget as soon as they get it and forgo ensuring that their device is properly secured. Cybercriminals could use this lack of attention as an inroad to gather personal consumer data, exposing consumers to malware or identity theft or even use unsecured devices to launch DDoS attacks as in the recent Dyn attack.”

5. Drones

Intel Security notes that drone sales are likely to hit over $20 billion by 2022 thanks to their ability to provide a unique perspective for shooting video and photos. But drones that aren’t properly secured could be at risk of having their GPS signal disrupted or getting hacked via their smartphone app.

Intel, of course, has a vested interest in showing how hackable all these products are: It wants to sell more security software. Still, a lot of people may not realize the extent to which hacking can afflict not only traditional Internet-connected devices but a new generation of connected toys.


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