World is fine with "Jack Daniels" but what about Jackware?

Yes, as everything since the beginning of the digital connected era, security is always a concern. Several “things” not exactly the standard PC are connected today. Computer-driven cars are a sample and a real threat might occur because of a new trend of malware.

In that case we talk about Jackware which is a malicious software that can take control of a device which the main function is not process data or communications. So we have something like a ransomware (Locky as sample) where someone can encrypt your data and then ask ransom to unlock it. The target of jackware can be even lock your car or other thing until you pay something. Imagine of example in case of Smart Grid solutions where you can control billing and even electric energy production through internet of the things with all the “intelligence“ locked? That could be a real problem. We have here a special ransomware. Do we have instead of IoT , the IiS ( Internet of Insecure Things ) ? Of course we have some brands which create the gateways of some of the communications with built-in firewalls but not all the times or even in all scenarios.

Vodafone made a great study where shows more than 75% of business see IoT critical for the infrastructure but see also the risks. At least 30 % restricted initial stope of solutions with IoT to avoid security risk. Another report is the Mobility Report from Ericsson 2016 says that in two years IoT replacement will be a reality to leave smartphones behind as the most connected devices. The security risk is a reality.

Today anything connected to the internet can be exposed and infiltrated by hackers. Mostly the softwares for IoT were not really designed and created to be secure, so vulnerabilities might apply. According to Eduardo Honorato prestigious CSO in South America region " the companies need to start have more control in the software development and also even under web services applications".

Jackware could be used to make people feel unsafe and even possible life-threatening to happen, we do not see famous cases yet but specific malware is under development. Do we have the developers community really preparing something to fight against it and putting priority one about jackware or even other threats? We all hope so. World deserves a digital and secure environment. Something to think.