“Smart? Maybe. Secure? Nope.” — The Dark Side of Cheap IoT Devices

That $12 Wi-Fi plug might seem like a smart steal — but it could be the dumbest decision for your home network.

Cheap IoT devices often sacrifice security for cost. Manufacturers cut corners with outdated firmware, unencrypted communication, and — shockingly — hardcoded credentials like admin:admin. Some are riddled with known vulnerabilities that never get patched. Others ping unknown servers in countries you’ve never visited, raising serious concerns about data leakage and privacy violations.

In many cases, these devices aren’t even designed to receive over-the-air updates. Once shipped, they’re static — and static means exploitable. A common tactic by bad actors is scanning the internet for such vulnerable devices, then enrolling them into massive botnets like Mirai, which have been used in record-breaking DDoS attacks.

But it’s not just about internet outages or becoming part of a botnet. A compromised IoT device on your network can be a pivot point to sniff traffic, exfiltrate passwords, or attack more valuable targets like your PC or NAS.