Researchers uncover thriving market for malware targeting IoT devices

Researchers on the dark web uncovered a thriving underground economy that is being used by hackers to launch attacks on IoT devices

Researchers at Kaspersky uncovered a thriving underground economy that is being used by hackers to launch attacks on IoT devices . | Photo Credit: Reuters

A thriving underground economy on the dark web offering exploits for zero-day vulnerabilities in IoT devices as well as IoT malware bundled with infrastructure and supporting utilities was uncovered by Kaspersky researchers.

The most notable service, in high demand amongst hackers, was found to be Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks orchestrated through IoT botnets.

Internet of Things or IoT devices are non–standard computing hardware used to extend internet connectivity beyond traditional internet devices. IoT devices include sensors, actuators, or appliances capable of connecting to the internet. These devices can be remotely monitored or controlled and are used in both industrial as well as end-consumer products including mobile devices, industrial equipment, and medical devices.