Refrigerator sends spam e-mails...

[RetrogradeOrbit]

No, you did read the title correctly!

A fridge has been discovered sending out spam after a web attack managed to compromise smart gadgets.
The fridge was one of more than 100,000 devices used to take part in the spam campaign.
Uncovered by security firm Proofpoint the attack compromised computers, home routers, media PCs and smart TV sets.

The attack is believed to be one of the first to exploit the lax security on devices that are part of the "internet of things".

Read the full report
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-25780908


Terminator 3 doesn't seem quite so silly now...

 

[KevanG]

Hah. Is your refrigerator running? No but it just asked you to send money to a nigerian prince.

 

[Teelie]

Ars Technica questions the validity of the research. It's possible but it's unlikely.

Still, there's a significant lack of technical detail for a report with such an extraordinary finding. Among other things, Proofpoint provided no details about the software the researchers say compromised the devices; it said it didn't "sinkhole" or otherwise monitor any of the command-and-control servers that would have been necessary to coordinate botnet activities; and it didn't convincingly explain how it arrived at the determination that 100,000 smart devices were commandeered. My doubts lingered even after a one-on-one interview with David Knight, general manager of Proofpoint's information security division.

[...]

Again, what Proofpoint is reporting is plausible, but it doesn't add up. Experienced botnet researchers know that estimating the number of infected machines is a vexingly imprecise endeavor. No technique is perfect, but the scanning of public IP addresses is particularly problematic. Among other things, the intricacies of network address translation mean that the IP address footprint of a home router will be the same as the PC, smart TV, and thermostat connected to the same network.

[...]

It's also hard to understand why someone would go to all the trouble of infecting a smart device and then use it to send just 10 spam messages. Traditional spam botnets will push infected PCs to send as many messages as its resources allow. The botnet reported by Proofpoint requires too much effort and not enough reward.

None of this is to say that the reported 100,000-strong smart-device botnet doesn't exist. And as most students of logic accept, it's not feasible to prove a negative. Still, the lack of evidence documenting any malware sample or a command and control server should give any reporter pause before repeating such an extraordinary claim. The research methodology is also a red flag.

 

[RetrogradeOrbit]

^^^
Interesting. Might be some scaremongering going on then? Hmmmm.

 

[NickNitro]

There are now more refrigerator jokes than "Is your Refrigerator running!"

Yes! My time as come! Stand up comedian

 

[KevanG]

Stop destroying his material Teelie.

 

[NickNitro]

That's why Teelie is here KevanG.....he is Buzz Killington.

 

[Duran Man]

Sounds chilling.

 

[KevanG]

Took me a second to get that.

 

[Teelie]

^^^
Interesting. Might be some scaremongering going on then? Hmmmm.

Despite my respect for the BBC's reporting, it's still a media source and the media is not above exaggeration to make a story sound bigger than it is. Although I'll give them the benefit of the doubt and place the blame on the researchers who made the claim in the first place not doing the proper research.

 

[KevanG]

Is your refrigerator sending you viruses? Tonight at 6!

 

[Quasimod0]

What is the purpose of a smart fridge?

 

[KevanG]

Because people are stupid?

 

[NickNitro]

No not necessarily.

There are fridges that have recipes and stuff built into them.

I think there is one that keeps track of what you have in the fridge and can show you different dishes you can make.

 

[Teelie]

What is the purpose of a smart fridge?

A very good question. One that once again, Ars Technica is asking. Really there seems to be no need for a fridge to be connected to the internet. It doesn't need internet access to keep a recipe list or to maintain a stock of what's in it either.

 

[RetrogradeOrbit]

But everything needs to be connected to the Internet or it isn't cool, right?

Edit
just realised that I made a fridge joke...! t:

 

[Teelie]

I need to get a larger drum set.

 

[NickNitro]

But everything needs to be connected to the Internet or it isn't cool, right?

Edit
just realised that I made a fridge joke...! t:

That's the future....and today. Everyone being connected, through everything. Even our everyday gadgets.

 

[Teelie]

Everything being connected to the internet sounds good, until you have your toilet tweet how you should never, ever eat Taco Bell again.

 

[Godzilla2000]

So the super AI that will enslave humanity was awakened within a refrigerator? I think the future freedom fighters have their target for annihilation very wrong.

 

[NickNitro]

Everything being connected to the internet sounds good, until you have your toilet tweet how you should never, ever eat Taco Bell again.

lol

Who thinks we'll achieve Technological Singularity in the near future?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technological_singularity

Ray Kurzweil: The Coming Singularity
[YT]1uIzS1uCOcE[/YT]

 

[Duke]

This fridge needs to learn to keep his cool.