blog
Computer & IT Security

Internet of Things & Security

By |

What is the “Internet of Things” and why should it be important to me? Many of you may have heard of the term “Internet of Things”, but may not be sure exactly what it refers to.  The last 20 or so years have seen a massive boom in advances in technology, specifically many consumer devices that connect to the web, from nanny cams to wireless doorbells, smart speakers (such as Alexa and Google Home), and Internet connected thermostats, among many others. It is estimated that there will be 20.4 BILLION IoT Devices by the year 2020, and that every second another 127 devices are connected to the Internet.  This doesn’t even include the estimated 2.87 billion smartphone users that would be online by the same year.  Originally it was just computers that would connect to the Internet – but now we live in an Internet of Things or IoT era. So now that we are in a world where today’s children wouldn’t even understand NOT having the Internet, most kids know more than their parents – and many elementary schools now have smartphones
So what does my smart fridge, nanny cam or WIFI light-bulb
have to do with security and why is it important?? With advances in technology, it’s not uncommon for people to get a new computer every 5 years, or a new smart phone every 2-3 years – and new “smart” home devices or other IoT devices are being made each day.  While the United State has a number of safeguards in place to protect our privacy, and the handling or data, etc.

Richmond Heights businesses

P.F. Chang’s data breach affected Richmond Heights restaurant

By |

The P.F. Chang’s restaurant in Richmond Heights, 25 The Boulevard, was included in a nationwide chain data breach in June, the St. Louis Business Journal reports. According to a statement from the restaurant, data could have been stolen from customers’ credit cards at the P.F. Chang’s, near The Galleria, between April 10 and June 11. “We have determined that the security of our card processing systems was compromised, and we have reason to believe that the intruder may have stolen some data from certain credit and debit cards that were used during specified time frames at 33 P.F. Chang’s China Bistro branded restaurant locations in the continental United States,” the statement said. “The potentially stolen credit and debit card data includes the card number and in some cases also the cardholder’s name and/or the card’s expiration date.