IoT news of the week for July 15, 2022

Almost all IoT security efforts fail: Or at least 93% of them have, according to a survey of 800 IT professionals conducted by security company Barracuda Networks. The survey focused on OT and IIoT failures. Notably, those who said their networks were breached blamed their tools, which is convenient for a security company that wants to sell new tools. But I imagine a lot of blame goes to the customer organization’s training and implementation processes. The survey found that only 18% restrict networks access or require multi-factor authentication. In today’s world, that’s inexcusable. Even my home security cameras require MFA! The survey also notes that many underfunded organizations don’t have the resources to continuously patch devices or systems, which leaves them vulnerable. The solution isn’t just to throw more software at the problem; it’s a combination of assessing the risks and benefits of connecting devices to the internet, enforcing new policies to boost security hygiene among employees, and developing policies for detecting and reacting to vulnerabilities and network attacks. Basically, it’s hard work. (CSO Online) — Stacey Higginbotham

Real Tesla Powerwalls become virtual power plants: Here in the U.S., it’s that time of the year when we stress the electrical grid to its breaking point. To help combat brownouts, Tesla introduced a pilot program in California for those with a Tesla Powerwall. The Emergency Load Reduction Program (ELRP) pays Powerwall owners $2 for each kWh of energy contributed from their battery to the grid. The idea is to create a distributed power grid, or virtual power plant, for use when there’s high electricity demand. It makes me wonder if Tesla Powerwalls will become a permanent source of distributed electricity, effectively turning Powerwall owners (that opt in) into full-time virtual electricity providers. (Electrek) — Kevin C. Tofel

Aqara wants to automate your curtains: There’s a new product for smart homes and at first, I thought it was to turn dumb blinds into smart ones. I was wrong. The latest product from Aqara actually automates opening and closing heavy curtains weighing up to 26 pounds. This $89 curtain motor works with Alexa, Google, HomeKit, and Zigbee (you’ll need an Aqara hub) with curtains that use either a rod or a track. Note that there are different versions of the product based on your curtain installation, so choose wisely. Aqara says Matter support will be added in the future. (9to5 Mac) — Kevin C. Tofel

Qualcomm teases its new Wear OS Snapdragon chip: After several iterations of processors for Google Wear OS devices, Qualcomm thinks it’s time for another one. And I would agree, since all of the previous silicon has been lacking. This week, the company teased an upcoming launch of the next Snapdragon chipset for Google-powered wearables. Qualcomm didn’t share any details on when we’ll see the new processor, but I suspect we won’t have long to wait. After years of rumors, we do know that a Google Pixel watch is launching this fall. (9to5 Google) — Kevin C. Tofel

Microsoft boosts enterprise IoT protection: After a 2021 preview launch, Microsoft Defender for IoT was officially introduced this week for the enterprise. The idea is that Microsoft will scan enterprise networks for non-managed devices and protect both IT and OT networks from any malware or threats. Considering Microsoft’s large presence in the enterprise market, this makes sense — even more so when you realize the company is using all of the data it gathers to create machine learning models that will harden protections. Also new here are valuable device insights from a dedicated Microsoft 365 Defender integration. Clever! (Microsoft) — Kevin C. Tofel

Need a hand switching from Wink? We discussed the latest Wink outage on the podcast, but it’s worth highlighting our related article from earlier this week. In it, we share various smart home options if you decide to pull the plug on your Wink hub. I’m partial to HomeKit, but I’d never say it’s the best solution for everyone. That’s why I cover the pros and cons of moving over to HomeBridge, HomeAssistant, and Hubitat, among other choices. Of course, you could always just go native with Amazon Alexa or Google Home as well. My advice? Make a list of your current smart home devices and see how many work with each of the options. Then decide which platform will replace Wink; you’ll save money if you can re-use devices you’ve already invested in. (StaceyOnIoT) — Kevin C. Tofel

Smart missiles come from smart factories: Northrop Grumman will embrace the internet of things with a smart manufacturing facility in Virginia capable of making 600 missile strikes each year. The company has embraced electronics in its products for decades, and the adoption of more digital technology in its manufacturing will allow it to shift production of missiles more quickly as the demand changes. Adaptability is a common reason companies are shifting their manufacturing to wireless technologies and robotics that can be updated with software. (IoT World Today) — Stacey Higginbotham

The power of breath: Researchers at Case Western Reserve have figured out a way to control home devices using breath. The researchers built a device designed for quadriplegics or those who cannot communicate via standard means to control their smart home. The device gets inserted into a person’s nose and they change the pattern of their breathing to set off different commands. The device could also be programmed to detect changes in breathing patterns that might indicate a medical emergency. The technology is also interesting because it uses a sensor that harvests electricity from the physical movements created by the air moving through the nostrils. Building out better energy harvesting technology will help in this use case and in many other areas of the IoT. We can’t put batteries up our noses and we certainly don’t want to change them in every sensor we deploy. (Tech Xplore) — Stacey Higginbotham