Moldova Cybersecurity Agency Warns of IoT Device Risks

The Moldova Cybersecurity Agency has issued a warning that Internet of Things (IoT) devices – such as surveillance cameras, smart appliances, sensors and automation systems – are vulnerable to cyber‑attacks when they are shipped with default or weak passwords, lack regular security updates, or are misconfigured. Attackers can exploit these weaknesses to gain unauthorized access to internal networks and to create large botnets. The agency cites the 2016 Mirai botnet, which compromised thousands of IoT devices, as an example of how compromised equipment can be used for distributed denial‑of‑service (DDoS) attacks.

While a single home camera or robot vacuum does not directly threaten essential services, the agency stresses that a mass compromise of vulnerable devices could affect critical infrastructure. Compromised IoT equipment in the energy sector, transport monitoring systems, or water‑management networks could provide attackers with entry points to disrupt operations, steal data or interfere with service delivery.