How to Protect Your IoT Devices with a VPN

May 18, 2017 Posted in VPN Education by No Comments

IoT is all the rage now, with the ability to connect non-computing devices to the Internet. IoT or the Internet of Things allow you to connect ordinary physical objects such as refrigerators, toasters, microwave ovens, washing machines, cameras, drones, and even objects such as trash cans and motorcars to the Internet. With IoT combined with the power of Artificial Intelligence, information from, for example, a refrigerator is provided to the drone to carry certain items to the trash can, which in turn informs you as to the amount of wastage occurring at your household. With such systems in place, it is easy to set up a highly efficient chain of devices that enhance productivity and efficiency. Unfortunately, since the devices are connected directly to the Internet, malicious activities can be performed by hackers with regards to the control of such devices and information.

The concept of IoT security is one that has plagued computer scientists for a long time. The most efficient method, as of now, for protecting IoT devices, is by using a VPN.

What is VPN?

VPN or Virtual Private Network is a network of computing devices that are securely connected to the Internet. The devices, instead of being connected directly, are connected through a VPN server which routes all traffic from the Internet to these devices. A reputable VPN service provider obfuscates your IP address and provides an encrypted connection, both between the Internet and the VPN server, as well as between the VPN server and your computing devices and IoT devices.

How can VPN Protect IoT Devices?

With the proliferation of IoT devices across the world, their protection from malicious attacks is extremely necessary. There have been cases of Google login credentials being stolen from malicious code hackers injected in a smart fridge from a reputable manufacturer. In addition, hackers can make code lurk in your IoT devices, striking on a particular day for a coordinated attack.

VPN encrypts the network traffic from your IoT devices to the Internet, allowing for a secure connection. For hackers looking to insert malicious code into your smart devices, they would only receive a stream of garbled data that can be only accessed by the devices having the encryption key.

In addition, as the first line of defense, VPNs obfuscate your IP address as well as the IP addresses of your IoT devices. With IP addresses moving to the IPv6 infrastructure, it is even more difficult for hackers to pinpoint the correct device manually, with IPv6 having a greater number of security features. Choose a VPN which provides IPv6 support for multiple devices.

While hacking and malicious activity is the bane of the Internet, exposing the dark underbelly of modern communication, securing your IoT devices is extremely easy with the help of superior technologies such as VPNs.

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