IoT security is top-of-mind for consumers across the globe, according to new research from Irdeto, which finds that 90% of consumers believe it is important that a connected device has security built into the product.
The survey covered polled 7,882 consumers from six different countries - India, China, Brazil, Germany, the UK and the US.
Among respondents, 78% said they are aware that any smart device connected to the Wi-Fi in their home has the potential to be targeted by a hacker, resulting in a cyberattack that could steal the personal data stored on the device.
The survey also found that awareness of cyberthreats targeting connected devices actually increases with age. Of all consumers surveyed online, 72% of millennials (18-24 years old) indicated that they are aware that any smart device connected to the Wi-Fi in their home has the potential to be targeted by a hacker, compared to 82% of consumers 55+.
This indicates that older generations may be more savvy about IoT security or more cautious regarding IoT technology than millennials, potentially leaving this younger generation more open to a cyberattack.
When asked if consumers or manufacturers are responsible for implementing security, the results indicate that both parties play an important role. More than half of consumers around the globe (56%) think that it is the responsibility of both the end-user and the manufacturer of the product to prevent hacking of smart devices.
Alternatively, only 15% of consumers globally think they are responsible, while 20% feel the manufacturer of the device is responsible for cybersecurity. In China, more consumers than any other country surveyed (31%) stated that it is the responsibility of manufacturers.
“While consumers across the globe believe that IoT devices need to have security manufactured into the product in order to prevent against cyberattacks, it’s encouraging that they also recognize the important role they play in IoT security,” said Mark Hearn, director of IoT Security at Irdeto.
“On the device manufacturer side, there must be a better “defense-in-depth” approach to cybersecurity that integrates multiple layers of security into a system.”