Devices such as Alexa are here to stay, but the question is how essential they will be to our daily lives. Bloomberg
Devices such as Alexa are here to stay, but the question is how essential they will be to our daily lives. Bloomberg
Devices such as Alexa are here to stay, but the question is how essential they will be to our daily lives. Bloomberg
Devices such as Alexa are here to stay, but the question is how essential they will be to our daily lives. Bloomberg

Are smart devices ‘smart’ enough to thwart the bad boys?


Alkesh Sharma
  • English
  • Arabic

Four tips to secure IoT networks

Mohammed Abukhater, vice president at FireEye in the Middle East, said:

- Keep device software up-to-date. Most come with basic operating system, so users should ensure that they always have the latest version

- Besides a strong password, use two-step authentication. There should be a second log-in step like adding a code sent to your mobile number

- Usually smart devices come with many unnecessary features. Users should lock those features that are not required or used frequently

- Always create a different guest network for visitors

Asking Google Assistant to book an Uber ride, directing Amazon’s Alexa to get weather reports and controlling your home’s entire electronics set-up while exercising in your building’s gym — the Internet of Things (IoTs) has made it all possible.

However, besides adding more comfort to our lives, are IoT devices also inviting cyber criminals to barge into our personal territories?

“A simple DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attack can convert smart devices into botnets that can be used to steal data, send spam and also let the attacker remotely control your smart devices,” said Mathivanan Venkatachalam, vice president at ManageEngine, a Dubai-based IT management firm.

DDoS attacks make a smart device or network unresponsive to its users. Hackers do this by flooding the target with an enormous amount of traffic.

“Users need to understand how to establish a secure framework for their smart devices … otherwise it will completely nullify their privacy and data protection,” said Mr Venkatachalam.

US researcher Gartner expects IoT security-related spending to reach almost $3.1 billion (Dh11.38bn) globally by 2021. Hewlett-Packard, meanwhile, said that 70 per cent of IoT devices are vulnerable to hacking.

"We are becoming more vulnerable to hacks by embracing more IoT devices in our routines," said Mohammed Abukhater, vice president at California-based cyber security firm FireEye for the Middle East and Africa market.

Most of the vendors that are manufacturing and selling IoT devices will not make much investment towards security because that is not their core job, said Mr Abukhater, adding, “The very structure of these (IoT) devices makes them more exposed to hackers and the induction of 5G will open even bigger doors for bad boys.”

Technology  company Cisco estimates that the number of IoT devices — the core to smart living — will be three times as high as the UN's predicted 8 billion global population, by 2021.

The consumer segment has the largest number of connected devices with 5.2 billion units in 2017, representing 63 per cent of the overall number of applications in use, according to Gartner.

Practically everything has an option to upgrade to be 'smarter' — from refrigerators to kettles, doorbells to light bulbs, speakers to televisions and even kids' teddies

“We have seen the consumer market flooding with connected devices and now practically everything has an option to upgrade to be ‘smarter’ — from refrigerators to kettles, doorbells to light bulbs, speakers to televisions and even kids’ teddies,” said Maher Jadallah, regional director for Middle East at Tenable, which is helping global organisations to understand and reduce cyber-security risks.

“It [IoT] comes with its own set of risks as there’s no sure-fire way to know whether or not the vendor has taken all steps to ensure the device is secure and up-to-date,” he said.

Industry experts suggested all smart devices should be segregated from other networks where invaluable personal information is stored and devices like personal laptops and smartphones operate.

“By connecting smart devices to a separate network, users lessen the potential damage, should an attacker gain access,” Mr Jadallah said.

Match info

Bournemouth 0
Liverpool 4
(Salah 25', 48', 76', Cook 68' OG)

Man of the match: Andrew Robertson (Liverpool)

What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

Company Fact Box

Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019

Founders: Hamdi Tabbaa, co-founder and CEO. Hussein Alsarabi, co-founder and CTO

Based: Amman, Jordan

Sector: Education Technology

Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed

Stage: early-stage startup 

Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.

The specs
  • Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
  • Power: 640hp
  • Torque: 760nm
  • On sale: 2026
  • Price: Not announced yet
Under 19 Cricket World Cup, Asia Qualifier

Fixtures
Friday, April 12, Malaysia v UAE
Saturday, April 13, UAE v Nepal
Monday, April 15, UAE v Kuwait
Tuesday, April 16, UAE v Singapore
Thursday, April 18, UAE v Oman

UAE squad
Aryan Lakra (captain), Aaron Benjamin, Akasha Mohammed, Alishan Sharafu, Anand Kumar, Ansh Tandon, Ashwanth Valthapa, Karthik Meiyappan, Mohammed Faraazuddin, Rishab Mukherjee, Niel Lobo, Osama Hassan, Vritya Aravind, Wasi Shah

Brief scoreline:

Manchester United 2

Rashford 28', Martial 72'

Watford 1

Doucoure 90'

PROFILE OF INVYGO

Started: 2018

Founders: Eslam Hussein and Pulkit Ganjoo

Based: Dubai

Sector: Transport

Size: 9 employees

Investment: $1,275,000

Investors: Class 5 Global, Equitrust, Gulf Islamic Investments, Kairos K50 and William Zeqiri

In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
  • Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000 
  • Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000 
  • Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000 
  • HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000 
  • Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000 
  • Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000 
  • Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000 
  • Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000 
  • Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000 
  • Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
  • Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
  • Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
Sweet%20Tooth
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MATCH INFO

Uefa Champioons League semi-final, first leg:

Liverpool 5
Salah (35', 45 1'), Mane (56'), Firmino (61', 68')

Roma 2
Dzeko (81'), Perotti (85' pen)

Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

While you're here
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Specs

Engine: Duel electric motors
Power: 659hp
Torque: 1075Nm
On sale: Available for pre-order now
Price: On request

MATCH INFO

Euro 2020 qualifier

Norway v Spain, Saturday, 10.45pm, UAE

The specs

Engine: 3.8-litre twin-turbo V8

Power: 611bhp

Torque: 620Nm

Transmission: seven-speed automatic

Price: upon application

On sale: now

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
War and the virus
Global state-owned investor ranking by size

1.

United States

2.

China

3.

UAE

4.

Japan

5

Norway

6.

Canada

7.

Singapore

8.

Australia

9.

Saudi Arabia

10.

South Korea

Four tips to secure IoT networks

Mohammed Abukhater, vice president at FireEye in the Middle East, said:

- Keep device software up-to-date. Most come with basic operating system, so users should ensure that they always have the latest version

- Besides a strong password, use two-step authentication. There should be a second log-in step like adding a code sent to your mobile number

- Usually smart devices come with many unnecessary features. Users should lock those features that are not required or used frequently

- Always create a different guest network for visitors