Awareness

AZ Business Magazine

Sep 26, 2016 Lazarus Alliance 0 Comment

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We’re reaching the end of 2025, and looking ahead to 2026, most experts are discussing the latest threats that will shape the year ahead. This year, we’re seeing a new, but not unexpected, shift to autonomous threats driven by state-sponsored actors and AI. With that in mind, a new generation of threats, broadly known as...Continue reading→

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What CISA’s Emergency Directive 26-01 Means for Everyone

In mid-October 2025, the CISA issued one of its most urgent orders yet: Emergency Directive 26-01. The directive calls on all Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies to immediately mitigate vulnerabilities in devices from F5 Networks following a state-sponsored breach of F5’s systems and access to portions of BIG-IP source code and vulnerability data. The event...Continue reading→

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Cybersecurity and Vetting AI-Powered Tools

A recent exploit involving a new AI-focused browser shone a light on a critical problem–namely, that browser security is a constant issue, and AI is just making that threat more pronounced. Attackers discovered a way to use that browser’s memory features to implant hidden instructions inside an AI assistant. Once stored, those instructions triggered unwanted...Continue reading→

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Identity and the Shift from Malware

The world of cyber threats is rapidly evolving, and while we can see these changes more generally, it’s always crucial to understand them concretely. As the 2025 CrowdStrike Global Threat Report shows us, the landscape of our industry is changing. We’re digging into this report to discuss a challenging trend: the move of hackers foregoing...Continue reading→

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Maintaining Compliance Against Prompt Injection Attacks

The increasing adoption of AI by businesses introduces security risks that current cybersecurity frameworks are not prepared to address. A particularly complex emerging threat is prompt injection attacks. These attacks manipulate the integrity of large language models and other AI systems, potentially compromising security protocols and legal compliance. Organizations adopting AI must have a plan...Continue reading→

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Are We Already Talking About CMMC 3.0?

The ink has barely dried on the CMMC final rule, and already the defense contracting community is buzzing with speculation about what comes next. Just when contractors thought they had a moment to catch their breath after years of regulatory limbo, whispers of CMMC 3.0 have begun circulating through the industry. But is this just...Continue reading→

Lazarus Alliance helps enterprises manage identity security and data governance.

Centralizing Identity-Based Risk

As the traditional network boundary dissolves and remote work becomes standard practice, identities are the major frontier for security. Whether we’re talking about human users, service accounts, or machine identities, these have emerged as both the primary access mechanism and the most targeted attack vector. It has become imperative for providers to centralize identity management...Continue reading→

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Deviation and Significant Change Requests in FedRAMP: A Comprehensive Guide

FedRAMP provides a standardized approach to security assessment, authorization, and continuous monitoring for cloud products and services used by federal agencies. While the program’s rigorous baseline requirements ensure consistent security, the reality is that this consistency calls for a little flexibility. This is where deviation requests and significant change requests come into play. These two...Continue reading→

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The Costs of Compliance and Data Breaches

Data is possibly one of the most valuable assets any organization holds. Customer information, employee records, and proprietary business intelligence present challenges because the data flowing through modern enterprises represents both significant opportunities and serious risks. Businesses face a challenging balance: investing in compliance measures to protect sensitive information while also preparing for the real...Continue reading→

Awareness Services

IoT Cyber Security Threatens Consumer Adoption of Smart Devices

Sep 22, 2016 Lazarus Alliance 0 Comment

If IoT cybersecurity concerns aren’t addressed, consumers will reject self-driving cars and other smart devices

Shortly after rideshare company Uber launched a pilot test of self-driving cars in Pittsburgh, competitor Lyft made the bold prediction that most of its cars would be self-driving within five years. While it can be argued that Lyft’s proclamation is overly optimistic, self-driving cars are no longer science fiction; rapid advances in machine learning and artificial intelligence are making it possible to turn more and more everyday gadgets and machines into smart Internet of Things (IoT) devices. However, consumers have grave concerns about the cybersecurity issues surrounding smart cars, smart thermostats, and other smart technology, and these concerns are not unfounded. Unless IoT manufacturers can ensure that IoT cybersecurity is solid, the IoT market could be severely hampered or, should a wide-scale hack occur, even grind to a halt.

Ransomware Possibly the Biggest Threat to IoT Cybersecurity

The IoT market is booming. Verizon predicts that the global market for IoT devices will grow from just under $600 billion in 2014 to $1.3 trillion in 2019. Although self-driving cars are still in their infancy, other smart devices, from fitness wearables to smart thermostats to connected insulin pumps, are ubiquitous. However, once a device connects to the internet, it immediately becomes a potential target for hackers, and IoT devices are particularly susceptible to ransomware attacks.

Recently, researchers at Intel Security discovered a vulnerability in a connected car that made it possible to install malware on the car’s infotainment system, causing the stereo to play the same song over and over. Many consumers are concerned about hackers being able to disable a smart car’s brakes or take control of its acceleration and steering. While these scenarios are possible, a ransomware attack on a smart car, which would render the car un-drivable until the owner paid a ransom, may be even more likely. Earlier this year, Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital paid a $17,000.00 Bitcoin ransom to hackers who had locked down the facility’s electronic health records. It’s reasonable to assume that a consumer who needs their car to get to work or drive their children to school may be willing to fork over several hundred dollars to a hacker, especially since trying to fix the car’s computer may cost that much or even more. If a hacker manages to disable a commercial fleet of self-driving vehicles, the affected company may be willing to pay that much per car.

The IoT cybersecurity threat extends to the smart home: Hackers could use ransomware to disable thermostats, security systems, even routers. Healthcare IoT cybersecurity is also a grave concern as pacemakers, insulin pumps, and other lifesaving devices are connected to the internet. Yet despite the gravity of the threats to connected devices, 90% of organizations have no cybersecurity plan to address IoT cybersecurity specifically, and 68% have no testing strategy for IoT devices.

Meanwhile, 58% of consumers report being “very concerned” or “highly concerned” about IoT cybersecurity. Smart device security isn’t just a cybersecurity issue; it’s a safety issue. If consumers do not feel that smart cars, smart thermostats, and other connected devices are safe, they will refuse to buy them or patronize businesses that use them. Manufacturers cannot afford to take a lackadaisical attitude toward IoT cybersecurity. Devices should be subjected to a comprehensive security evaluation and testing process before they are released into the marketplace, and businesses that purchase IoT devices should refuse to buy products that haven’t been proven safe.

The cybersecurity experts at Lazarus Alliance have deep knowledge of the cybersecurity field, are continually monitoring the latest information security threats, and are committed to protecting organizations of all sizes from security breaches. We offer full-service risk assessment services and Continuum GRC software to protect companies from data breaches, ransomware attacks, and other cyber threats.

Lazarus Alliance is proactive cybersecurity®. Call 1-888-896-7580 to discuss your organization’s cybersecurity needs and find out how we can help your organization secure your enterprise IoT devices.

What Is Autonomous Malware?

We’re reaching the end of 2025, and looking ahead to 2026, most experts are discussing the latest threats that will shape the year ahead. This year, we’re seeing a new, but not unexpected, shift to autonomous threats driven by state-sponsored actors and AI. With that in mind, a new generation of threats, broadly known as...Continue reading→

What CISA’s Emergency Directive 26-01 Means for Everyone

In mid-October 2025, the CISA issued one of its most urgent orders yet: Emergency Directive 26-01. The directive calls on all Federal Civilian Executive Branch (FCEB) agencies to immediately mitigate vulnerabilities in devices from F5 Networks following a state-sponsored breach of F5’s systems and access to portions of BIG-IP source code and vulnerability data. The event...Continue reading→

Cybersecurity and Vetting AI-Powered Tools

A recent exploit involving a new AI-focused browser shone a light on a critical problem–namely, that browser security is a constant issue, and AI is just making that threat more pronounced. Attackers discovered a way to use that browser’s memory features to implant hidden instructions inside an AI assistant. Once stored, those instructions triggered unwanted...Continue reading→