State & Local Government Policy, Business and Technology

Thermostat Ransomware: A Glimpse into the Future of Crime in Cities

Government Technology: At this year's annual DEF CON conference held Aug. 4-7 in Las Vegas, two security researchers demonstrated that it's possible to infect a smart thermostat with ransomware — a form of malicious software that encrypts or blocks access to a device until a ransom is paid, usually in the form of bitcoins.

Ransomware has most commonly infected desktop and laptop computers, but the DEF CON demonstration provides a glimpse into ransomware’s impact on the Internet of Things (IoT) and the future of crime in cities. As consumers continue to buy Internet-enabled TVs, locks, thermostats and carsâ€Š, â€Šthe threat landscape will continue to compound. Today, the promise of our connected future is riddled with security vulnerabilities that can easily be taken advantage of. Unfortunately, the worst is yet to come; even an article in the Wall Street Journal speculated that ransomware would soon make its way to your connected vehicle.

Read article