Published in PC Hardware

Older Qualcomm Snapdragons have security hole

by on16 March 2016


Trend Micro worried about the Internet of Things

Security experts at Trend Micro have discovered a vulnerability in Qualcomm Snapdragon-produced SoC (system on a chip) devices which has highlighted a few worries about the internet of things.

The vulnerability is for older Snapdragons which are no longer in line for security updates, but the same chips are used in IoT devices. The vulnerability makes it possible for an attacker to gain root access to the hardware.

Trend Micro's Noah Gamer said that a large portion of the population already doesn't see the point of updating their systems, and this only pertains to the few Internet-connected devices in their homes.

“An IoT future, where almost every device in the home will have a connection, is only going to compound this problem further. Add in the fact that some of these devices will be designed to be cheap and 'essentially disposable' and it's easy to see why many people worry about the security of the IoT. SoCs like the ones developed by Snapdragon are already making their rounds in IoT devices including certain wearables. If the industry can't find a way to effectively patch these vulnerabilities, there could be massive repercussions.

He said that backing a smartphone by exploiting a vulnerability is one thing, but as the IoT infiltrates further and deeper into our lives, the long arm of attackers could reach even further and have even more disastrous consequences.

The difficulty here is that the IoT going to need to have a system in place ensuring these devices are safe for public use with security updates.

Last modified on 16 March 2016
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