conference logo

Playlist "All Systems Go! 2017"

The IoT botnet wars, Linux devices, and the absence of basic security hardening

Drew Moseley

We will discuss the various malware infecting Linux IoT devices including Mirai, Hajime, and BrickerBot and the vulnerabilities they leverage to enslave or brick connected devices. We will walk the audience through specific vectors they used to exploit devices and cover some basics in security hardening that would have largely protected from many of the widespread malware.

Some of the fundamental security concepts we will cover include:

Closing unused open network ports
Intrusion detection systems
Enforcing password complexity and policies
Removing unnecessary services
Frequent software updates to fix bugs and patch security vulnerabilities

We will also delve into the arguments and counter-arguments of vigilante hacking with Hajime and BrickerBot as examples and the potential long-term consequences in this new age of connected devices.