Strengthen cybersecurity rules

Smart home devices in apartments vulnerable to hacking

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) confirmed last week that the automatic control system server for facilities installed at an apartment complex in Seoul had been hacked. Remote control programs that were embedded into the server after the first hacking in March turned it into a stopover for attacks on internet servers scattered in 40 countries.

The spy agency expressed concern about the ripple effects of the incident, saying the hacked system is currently used in over 260 apartment complexes and buildings across the country. The system is designed to automatically control air conditioners and heaters, drainage pumps, tanks and other equipment.

The server incident follows a revelation in late November that shocked the nation. High-tech intercom systems installed in apartments here were found to be vulnerable to hacking. Hackers were able to access footage of neighboring apartments connected through the building's network once they succeed in breaching the security of one home. A technology news website reported that a hacker targeted hundreds of smart home devices and sold video footage of residents on the dark web. The police launched an investigation and confirmed hacked video footage from apartments was put up for sale online.

It's no exaggeration to say that hackers can peek into our private lives and control someone else's apartment at will. Many new apartments here have smart home devices, including door locks, lights, air conditioners and washing machines that can be controlled remotely by smartphones through high-tech home systems.

Therefore, it is imperative to strengthen cybersecurity rules so that people can continue to enjoy this convenience, while ensuring their safety. First of all, security loopholes must be unearthed and addressed through the routine maintenance of wireless networks and infrastructure in apartments. It's also essential to internalize security programs in various devices. Construction companies should unlink smart home systems for each apartment to prevent hackers from penetrating the devices of a whole building through a single breach. More importantly, it's necessary to heighten public awareness of cybersecurity. The dangers of hacking are very real indeed.

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