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Cyberattacks on internet-connected devices continue to rise at an alarming rate due to poor security protections and cybercriminals use of automated tools to exploit these vulnerabilities, according to the latest Nokia Threat Intelligence Report.

The report found that Internet-connected, or IoT, devices now make up roughly 33% of infected devices, up from about 16% in 2019. The report’s findings are based on data aggregated from monitoring network traffic on more than 150 million devices globally where Nokia's NetGuard Endpoint Security product is deployed.

Adoption of IoT devices, from smart home security monitoring systems to drones and medical devices, is expected to continue growing as consumers and enterprises move to take advantage of the high bandwidth, ultra-low latency, and fundamentally new networking capabilities that 5G mobile networks enable, according to the report.

The rate of success in infecting IoT devices depends on the visibility of the devices to the internet, according to the report. In networks where devices are routinely assigned public facing internet IP addresses, a high infection rate is seen. In networks where carrier-grade Network Address Translation is used, the infection rate is considerably reduced because the vulnerable devices are not visible to network scanning.

THE REPORT HIGHLIGHTS COVID-19-THEMED CYBERCRIMINAL CAMPAIGNS AIMED AT EXPLOITING USER DATA

The Threat Intelligence Report also reveals there is no let up in cybercriminals using the COVID-19 pandemic to try to steal personal data through a variety of types of malware. One in particular is disguised as a “Coronavirus Map” application – mimicking the legitimate and authoritative Coronavirus Map issued by Johns Hopkins University – to take advantage of the public’s demand for accurate information about COVID-19 infections, deaths and transmissions.

But the bogus application is used to plant malware on victims’ computers to exploit personal data. “Cybercriminals are playing on people’s fears and are seeing this situation as an opportunity to promote their agendas,” the report says. The report urges the public to install applications only from trusted app stores, like Google and Apple.

Bhaskar Gorti, Nokia Software President and Chief Digital Officer, said: “The sweeping changes that are taking place in the 5G ecosystem, with even more 5G networks being deployed around the world as we move to 2021, open ample opportunities for malicious actors to take advantage of vulnerabilities in IoT devices. This report reinforces not only the critical need for consumers and enterprises to step up their own cyber protection practices, but for IoT device producers to do the same.”

Commenting on this, Boris Cipot, senior security engineer at Synopsys, said "The Nokia Threat Report is a welcome confirmation for security professionals that mobile platforms are not something that can be disregarded as a risk. If we think about it, today we have more processing power and memory in our smartphones than we did just a few years ago on our laptops and desktops. Most individuals now jump on their phones or tablet to browse the internet or read their emails. Use cases have shifted from traditional desktop/laptop to mobile device and as such, it is normal that cyberthreats have followed this trend. Nevertheless, that is not to say that individuals should disregard standard PC threats. While mobile threats are rising, this does not imply that PC threats are decreasing. On the contrary, these threats are growing in number too.

"In fact, we are now entering a new era of technology; that is the 5G era, which brings along with it another set of threats. New threats are to be expected with new technology. One has to be prepared for them and to take appropriate action to build resilience. The world of IoT is evidence that we are still a long way from achieving this. Breached baby monitors, video cameras, cryptocurrency mining… all of these are recent incidents we have faced and continue to face. Whether it is the Android platform or the RTOS of an IoT device that is under attack, the root of the matter typically comes down to vulnerabilities in the software. Therefore, secure development and the Security by Design principle needs to be at the foundation of every software development process. The use of tools such as SAST, SCA or IAST are mandatory to keep the whole ecosystem safe. The reason being that even the smallest security hole delivered by the smallest application in a mobile phone or PC could be responsible for a whole device becoming exploitable.“

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Further Reading:

• Read the Nokia Threat Intelligence Report @ www.nokia.com/threat-intelligence-report
• Read more about Digital Transformation @ www.fieldservicenews.com/digital-transformation
• Watch Nokia's video 'Vulnerability of IoT Devices' @ youtu.be/ume8OldqvUY
• Watch Nokia's video '5G Can Help Secure Devices' @ youtu.be/XghAvFgTv2k
• Follow Nokia on Twitter @ twitter.com/nokia

Lytx^®, a leading provider of machine vision- and artificial intelligence-powered video telematics, analytics, safety, and productivity solutions for commercial, public sector, and field service fleets, today announced several new technology capabilities that build upon its ability to quickly, comprehensively, and accurately identify driving risk.

Using precise, cutting-edge technology, this new driver-powered approach to safety is a simple, but powerful way for drivers to be more proactive and accountable for their own improvement, while giving management the necessary visibility and data to effectively monitor and intervene if needed.

THE NEXT GENERATION OF DRIVER-POWERED SAFETY

Lytx is adding a number of new capabilities to its safety offerings in support of this driver-powered approach, including:

• "Inattentive" trigger, which uses proprietary machine vision and artificial intelligence (MV+AI) to detect when the driver's attention may be unfocused or the driver may be experiencing a condition such as fatigue or drowsiness without the reliance on an accelerometer event
• Real-time in-cab alerts for five different risky driving behaviors: cell phone use, eating and drinking, smoking, no seatbelt, speeding, and inattentiveness
• Behavior duration reporting, which uses MV+AI to track and quantify both the duration and percentage of drive time a driver was engaged in a risky driving behavior, providing a more holistic view of persistent risk

With these new MV+AI-powered updates, when an event is detected, the DriveCam^® Event Recorder will issue a real-time in-cab alert to help drivers recognize and address their own risky behaviors and self-correct in the moment. Depending on the behavior, the alert will include a light and/or spoken phrase. With Lytx's ability to detect more than 60 driving behaviors with greater than 95% accuracy, its in-cab alerts are some of the most precise and actionable in the industry.

Drivers will also have access to new check-in tools allowing them to review their own video and performance after-the-fact, including behavior duration. This gives a new perspective on past events and supports long-term retention on lessons learned during a drive. If desired, managers can stay informed by subscribing to push notifications and reports on pertinent information.

"Fleets today are looking for reliable technology that allows drivers to quickly improve in the moment and with little or no manager intervention," said Lytx President Doron Lurie. "A driver-powered approach to safety empowers drivers to take charge of their own safety, while freeing up precious manager time that can be redirected to other areas of the business. Backed by award-winning technology and a proven strategy that has helped hundreds of thousands of drivers safely navigate billions of miles, fleet managers can be confident in this approach and can track progress along the way to respond to any critical events or incidents and intervene as needed."

THE RISK DETECTION WITHOUT RECORDING VIDEO

Lytx is also broadening its safety solutions with Risk Identification Without Recording, an innovative new configuration for its already best-in-class DriveCam Event Recorder. Using Lytx's ultra-precise MV+AI, DriveCam is now able to detect patterns of distracted or unwanted driving behaviors inside the cab without recording video of the driver.

This new configuration is designed for fleets who opt to disable in-cab video recording, allowing them to benefit from significantly greater in-cab risk detection, while respecting driver privacy. Drivers can receive the added benefit of Lytx's expanded in-cab alerts based on risky behaviors that are detected, but not recorded, enabling in-the-moment action for greater safety overall.

"For more than 20 years, Lytx has made an unwavering commitment to developing cutting-edge technology, and we are continuously innovating to incorporate that technology for greater safety and productivity enhancements," said Lytx Chief Technology Officer Rajesh Rudraradhya. "Leveraging our unmatched scale, deep expertise and advanced AI architecture, we have evolved from using AI to provide only video snippets and counts of risky driving behaviors to offering a full view of each and every drive with precise continual behavior reporting. The advanced driver first innovations announced today will help fleets and drivers identify and eradicate risk at levels never seen before, while ensuring every fleet can take advantage of the power of Lytx MV+AI to cut through the noise and focus on what matters."

These new capabilities announced today are part of Lytx's safety solutions and are configurable to suit each fleet's unique workflows and priorities. To learn more about driver-powered safety and see in-cab alerts in action, watch this new video.

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Further Reading:

• Read more about Managing The Mobile Workforce @ www.fieldservicenews.com/managing-the-mobile-workforce
• Learn more about Lytx  @ www.lytx.com
• Find out more about Detect and Prevent Risky Driving with Lytx @ youtu.be/F1B1jEWcLAY
• Read more about Lytx on Field Service News @ www.fieldservicenews.com/lytx
• Follow Lytx on Twitter @ twitter.com/lytx