This Tool Quickly Scans If Your Home IoT Device is Secure or Not

Internet of things or IoT as it more popularly know as came into our lives with a lot of promise and potential. While it is slowly coming out of its cocoon, the one thing that has got everyone worried are the recent cases that have emerged regarding IoT devices security and privacy. For example, last year, Mirai, the malware, had single-handedly caused one of the worst distributed denial of service (DDoS) cyberattacks that the world had experienced in the last few years, and had managed to spread and infect internet-connected devices in over 177 countries all around the world.

Seeing the number of such cases escalating at an alarming rate, the tech industry decided to do something about the issue and started coming up with ways people could protect their IoT devices. Last year, we reported about Imperva coming up with a scanner website to check IoT devices for viruses/malware. And now, BullGuard, which is Europe’s number one rated consumer security company, has come up with a quick and easy tool called the Internet of Things Scanner, which lets people know if their IoT setup is secure.

The Internet of Things Scanner is a service that checks if any of your Internet of Things devices are on Shodan, a popular search engine that lets anyone and everyone find IoT devices like printers, thermostats, and cameras that are publicly accessible on the net, thus making them vulnerable to hackers.



BullGuard’s Internet of Things Scanner is extremely easy to use. One doesn't have to buy or install anything; all they have to do is simply go to its website and click on the Check if I am on Shodan option prominently visible on the website. Once selected, the website will churn out the result within a few seconds.

If one is still not satisfied, they can then click on the Deep Scan option to look at all the devices on their network and see if the scanner finds any security issues. According to BullGuard, the only negative about using the Deep Scan option, is that it might result in listing the vulnerable devices on Shodan. But, BullGuard says that if any security issues are found they will offer suggestions on how these vulnerable devices can be secured.

In order to educate and make people aware about how to secure their IoT devices, BullGuard has also come with its own IoT consumer guide. The guide highlights three basic tips for securing one's network that anyone should do regardless of whether they own smart devices at home or not. The tips are simple: Set a password on your smartphone, change the default password for your router’s administration features, and then change your Wi-Fi network password from the default.

So, what are you waiting for, check your devices right away!