The Latest in IT Security

The surge Web-connected devices — TVs, refrigerators, thermostats, door locks and more — has opened up huge opportunities for cyberattacks because of weak security, researchers said Thursday. A study by the Hewlett-Packard security unit Fortify found 70 percent of the most commonly used Internet of Things devices contain vulnerabilities, including inadequate passwords or encryption, or lax access restrictions. While the Internet of Things will connect and unify countless objects and systems, it also presents a significant challenge in fending off the adversary given the expanded attack surface, said Mike Armistead, vice president and general manager for Fortifys enterprise security. The study comes amid recent security warnings about hacking of medical devices, cars, televisions and even toilets that have an Internet connection.