Bots in the A/C, spyware in the ‘fridge
Over time, the computers inside air conditioners, refrigerators, televisions and automobiles will increasingly connect to cyberspace. This phenomenon also will open them up to the same attacks now threatening PCs, servers and databases.
Are we as an industry prepared for such an assault? No. But Trend Micro executives last week said in time, we will be better equipped to take on such attacks.
“You’re seeing computer networks built into everything,” said David Michael Perry, global director of education for the Tokyo-based antivirus firm. “Look at cars. Door locks are increasingly controlled by computer networks. If you lock the keys in the car, OnStar can unlock it for you.” Perry also noted how he can use the Internet to turn down the air conditioner in his house and how TiVo “is nothing but a networked computer.”