Home webcams that were hijacked to help knock popular websites offline last week are being recalled in the US.
Chinese electronics firm Hangzhou Xiongmai issued the recall soon after its cameras were identified as aiding the massive web attacks.
They made access to popular websites, such as Reddit, Twitter, Spotify and many other sites, intermittent.
Security experts said easy-to-guess default passwords, used on Xiongmai webcams, aided the hijacking.
The web attack enrolled thousands of devices that make up the internet of things - smart devices used to oversee homes and which can be controlled remotely.
Will we go through this over and over with toasters, refrigerators, and every other connected appliance?
(Score: 2) by MichaelDavidCrawford on Tuesday October 25 2016, @03:40PM
We use computers inappropriately. As this webcam exploit demonstrates, the cost of device failure is far greater than its benefit to society.
I don't like to fly on modern passenger jets. I am a physicist so it's not that I don't understand how wings generate lift.
No.
I'm afraid of computer programmers.
Yes I Have No Bananas. [gofundme.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday October 25 2016, @09:53PM
But there is a lot of redundant safety systems overseen by two highly trained humans. Flying is the safest way to travel, the stats bear this out. You don't have to trust the computer programmers, trust the statistics.
(Score: 1, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Wednesday October 26 2016, @04:28AM
Well its not like the flight controls share the same wireless network as the in flight entertainment or anything.......
https://www.wired.com/2015/04/hackers-commandeer-new-planes-passenger-wi-fi/ [wired.com]