Let’s face it, everyone nowadays is looking for new and better ways to save power. After all, it’s a win-win for everyone – you save money on your utility bills, all while saving our fragile planet. The smart meter is one of the main technologies that has been implemented to manage energy saving.
At first sight, smart meters appear to be the perfect solution, because they save homeowners and businesses a ton of money on their energy bills; however, security-conscious consumers are questioning the type of data they generate. Questions arise, such as how secure they really are, and what kind of information are they sending – and most importantly, who is receiving that data, and what are they doing with it?
The following infographic, created by Jones Oil, reveals the energy consumption problem; breaking down how smart meters really work and how hackers can break into them. Find out about the four main vulnerabilities they possess, as well as how security investigators are working to make them more secure all across the globe.
The best way to prevent security hacks is to think like a security hacker, so let’s crawl inside the minds of these ingenious thieves. Find out what we can do to make smart meters more secure, so they can do just what they were meant to do in the first place – to save energy.
And if you think it’s just your smart meter, think again. Modern appliances with RFID technology, like washers and televisions can provide hackers with some surprising information on how you live, private things that may even shock you.
So, are smart meters and other appliances in the smart home a good idea or not? It’s up to you to decide. Although the concept is an excellent one, the security holes these devices create may make them not worth the risk. What manufacturers need to do as soon as possible is to find those security holes and fill each in, making smart devices and appliances safer for everyone to use.
How A Smart Meter Can Shut Off Your Home’s Power [Infographic] – By the team at Jones Oil