If you think you heard it all, here is a new cyber threat to beware of.
Reports of certain Android powered smart TVs being held for ransom are emerging. The FLocker ransomware originally emerged in 2015, attacking Android smartphones; however, the threat has been pretty well contained through app and device security updates. But now there is a new variant that is going after smart devices.
Imagine going to your refrigerator and being locked out of your beer supply, or those steaks you were salivating over while getting ready to barbecue them. This might be an exaggeration, but remember that the first documented incident of smart device hacking was via an LG smart fridge, where the fridge sent out 750,000 malicious emails in late 2013.
Now in my case, I only have relatively "dumb" TVs and appliances at home which are connected to a variety of "smart" devices, and as you can see in the picture, I usually prefer using low-tech security devices. You can read more about the smart TV threats at http://thehackernews.com/2016/06/smart-tv-ransomware.html
--
About the Author
Brent is an experienced international corporate organization leader and technology commercialization consultant. He spent over 14 years in Hong Kong and Singapore while heading up various divisions and companies at Carl Zeiss AG.
Brent is currently based in Toronto and sits on the advisory boards of several companies in Canada and Europe. He is active at the Canadian Association of Management Consultants, mentoring new candidates to their professional designation programs. Brent studied Computer Engineering, has earned a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Leicester University in the UK, and holds a Certified Management Consultant (CMC) professional designation.
--
Like this content, but want more? Management Consulting Week 2016 is coming to Toronto this fall! Head on over to CMCweek2016.com to get the details on all the great speakers and planned activities.
