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   TikToks American ownership rule ignores bigger IoT threat   
      
   Date:   
   Tue, 04 Mar 2025 15:11:14 +0000   
      
   Description:   
   Forget TikTok - there's a much bigger threat from millions of Chinese-made    
   IoT devices.   
      
   FULL STORY   
   ======================================================================   
      
   The push to ban TikTok was always disingenuous in the United States. Dont get   
   me wrong  the apps spyware concerns are well-founded. However, banning one    
   app while ignoring scores of other state-owned, questionable software and   
   hardware is like plugging a leaky dam while water gushes through dozens of   
   other cracks. Its not a long-term solution to a deep-rooted problem.    
      
   For me, as a connected device user and maker of more than two decades, the   
   social media ban (and rapid about-face) raises a bigger, overlooked security   
   concern: the vast network of Chinese-manufactured smart devices in homes and   
   businesses. While TikToks data collection makes headlines, the Internet of   
   Things (IoT) captures far more intimate data about our daily lives.    
      
   As lawmakers now attempt to find American buyers for co-ownership of TikTok,   
   Im left asking myself: If this app requires home-grown investment and    
   steering for security, shouldnt the same apply to the millions of    
   Chinese-made IoT devices?   
      
   We know about this threat    
      
   Chinese-connected devices have been making headlines for years. First, theyre   
   cheap, which means theyre hackable. Tens of thousands of customers found this   
   out the hard way when Hikvision, a state-owned surveillance camera   
   manufacturer, left users exposed through unpatched software vulnerabilities   
   and default passwords that leaked online.    
      
   Further, these devices arent just weak  theyre black boxes. Ownership is    
   often unknown or state-linked, so what happens with device data is anyones   
   best guess. Additionally, theres no telling what these devices could do. The   
   hardware, software, and platform are made in China. With full network access,   
   rogue devices could monitor network traffic, inject malicious code, and    
   create distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks.    
      
   What we can say for certain is that these devices  from robot vacuums to    
   video doorbells  collect more intimate, real-time data than any social media   
   app. This includes constant audio, video, and location data. Think about it:   
   social media only sees what you choose to share, while these devices witness   
   your unfiltered life. They come with eyes and ears  cameras and microphones   
   that can track daily routines, lifestyle, and, well, you.    
      
   While TikTok operates in the virtual realm of social media content, IoT    
   senses and actuates with the real world around it. Connected cars with    
   cameras can drive around and discover all kinds of infrastructure, even using   
   sensors like WiFi to discover networks and digital mechanisms. This is just   
   the tip of the surveillance iceberg.   
      
   More dangerous than TikTok    
      
   The TikTok ban and ownership decision opens up a digital can of worms. Its   
   just not true to say this app is a national security risk if countless other   
   devices arent given the same distinction. This is especially so if the threat   
   from connected devices is actually worse than one app.    
      
   Consider, for example, that devices directly connect to cloud platforms   
   again, determined by the devicemaker  with some even counting facial   
   recognition. Not to mention, TikTok is usually tied to a mobile device, which   
   adds an extra security layer via iOS or Android. Devices dont have this. How   
   is this not a security and geopolitical risk, again?    
      
   The truth is that TikToks ban and buyout is based on political posturing   
   rather than consumer safety. For this reason, its highly unlikely governments   
   will start divvying up ownership and operation of every dodgy company in   
   Chinese IoT. Theres not enough political will and, ultimately, these devices   
   do a lot of good for economies when onboarded  keyword  safely.    
      
   Of course, regulators are trying to encourage device security baselines in   
   Europe (Cyber Resilience Act) and The United States (Cyber Trust Mark)   
   regarding default passwords and patching guarantees. But they cant and wont   
   move for outright bans or buyouts. After all, IoT offers excellent efficiency   
   and management insights, and Chinese devices often deliver the best bang for   
   buck. So, what can we do?   
      
   Protect yourself, your networks, and your data    
      
   Protecting yourself from this threat starts by weighing up the pros and cons   
   of technology from this part of the world. Theres a real chance youll pay the   
   price for discounted devices in the form of security backdoors and data loss.   
   So, keep the overall bottom-line impact in mind.    
      
   If you decide to bite the bullet, ensure multiple security failsafes.   
   Configure your devices with peer-to-peer communication and end-to-end   
   encryption . Also, store them under your own lock and key at the edge. This   
   way, theyre on their own segmented network closer to home with less latency   
   and fewer intermediary servers.    
      
   For the record, I dont think governments should get involved with the   
   ownership of these companies. Nonetheless, its a worthwhile thought exercise   
   with geopolitics moving at breakneck speed and devices entering our most   
   private spaces. Regulations are the right move for the moment and lets hope   
   our lawmakers keep a close eye on this sector.    
      
   Whatever happens next, both consumers and companies need to move with the   
   landscape. Between tariffs and TikTok, nothing is off the table, so be    
   careful not to put your data in the line of fire.    
      
    This article was produced as part of TechRadarPro's Expert Insights channel   
   where we feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry   
   today. The views expressed here are those of the author and are not   
   necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in   
   contributing find out more here:   
   https://www.techradar.com/news/submit-your-story-to-techradar-pro   
      
   ======================================================================   
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.techradar.com/pro/tiktoks-american-ownership-rule-ignores-bigger-i   
   ot-threat   
      
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