With nearly 2 in 5 Australians planning to buy most if not all of their Christmas Gifts online this year (37%), Intel Security has investigated what the top internet-connected purchases are expected to be this Christmas season, and provided tips on how to secure your devices correctly for the best possible protection.
The Top Internet-Connected Devices that Australians will buy this year will be:
- Smartphone or tablets (65% said they would either be buying for themselves or for another)
- Laptops (41%)
- Smart TVs (33%)
- Fitness Trackers (25%)
- Home devices such as bluetooth speakers, connected thermostats (23%)
But despite 80% of Aussies saying they would start using their devices within the first day of receiving them, Intel Security has found that less than half (44%) are confident they are taking the correct security procedures to secure their device, and a further 46% are unsure of what they even need to do.
This year’s Most Hackable Christmas Gifts:
- Laptops and PCs
- Smartphones and Tablets
- Media Streaming Devices
- Smart Home Automation Devices and Apps
- Drones
To create the list of Most Hackable Christmas Gifts, Intel Security analysed the list of popular devices for a range of factors including accessibility, communication security, target value (whether these devices have access to information that would be valuable to a cyber criminal), activity (whether the hacking community is actively researching how to exploit these devices), and whether there are any active exploits roaming the internet looking for these devices:
“Just as consumers are eager to use their devices as soon as they can, cybercriminals are even keener to use this lack of attention to security to their advantage, and swiftly gather personal consumer data. This could expose consumers to malware or identity theft or even use unsecured devices to launch DDoS attacks as in the recent Dyn attack,” said Andrew Hurren, Regional Solution Architect at Intel Security ANZ.
To stay protected for a happier and safer Christmas cyberseason, Intel Security has the following tips:
- Secure your device before you start using it. Your laptop, smartphone or tablet are the keys to controlling your home and your personal information. Make sure you have comprehensive security software installed on them, like McAfee® Total Protection.
- Only use secure Wi-Fi. Using your devices, such as your smart home applications, on public Wi-Fi could leave you and your home open to risk. Never allow your home devices to be directly exposed to the internet.
- Keep software up-to-date. Apply patches as they are released from the manufacturer. Install manufacturer updates right away to ensure that your device is protected from the latest known threats.
- Configure a strong password or PIN. Don’t use default passwords. If your device supports it, use multi-factor authentication (MFA) as it can include factors like a trusted device, your face, fingerprint, etc. to make your login more secure.
- Check before you click. Be suspicious of links from people you do not know and always use internet security software to stay protected. Hover over the link to find a full URL of the link’s destination in the lower corner of your browser.
- Do your research. Purchase devices that come with proper administration and management. Devices should possess the necessary processes to determine if something is wrong, communicate such events to their owners, and provide options to resolve issues.
