Hacking a smart home at Web Summit

Michael Healey 6 Nov 2018

Smart home security is our focus at this week’s Web Summit 2018

You make your home “smarter” which each connected device you add — a smart doorbell, a smart thermostat, a smart television — almost everything comes in a “smart” version these days, even toothbrushes. Device by device, you grow this IoT universe around you like the cozy blanket of creature comforts it is. But every IoT device is connected to the internet, and every connection to the internet is a doorway. Without proper security, you may get more than simply the ease and convenience of your device coming through that doorway.

At Web Summit this year, Avast Researcher Vlad Illiushin will illustrate the danger of these IoT doorways by performing a live hack of a smart home alongside Chess Grandmaster Garry Kasparov and Avast CTO Ondrej Vlcek. Vlad will demonstrate the ease with which a security camera can be accessed and used to infect and control a series of other smart devices connected to the same home network.

The goal of the demo is to show how simple it is for a cybercriminal to “own” a smart home network and encourage consumers to balance convenience with effective security.

Afterwards, Garry will comment on the hack, and Ondrej will assess the state of IoT security as it exists today, revealing how new technologies, including AI, can be used to keep smart home environments secure.

The demo will take place on Wednesday, November 7th at 14:10 at the Binate.io stage, following a highly anticipated discussion on AI vs. human intuition between Garry and Ray Dalio, Founder, Co-Chief Investment Officer & Co-Chairman at Bridgewater Associates. The “AI and Algorithmic Decision Making” chat will take place the same day at 12:55 pm on the Forum Stage.

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