Breaking Embedded IoT Systems | Ken Munro, Partner at Pen Test Partners | #IoTMakers E036
Ken Munro, Partner at Pen Test Partners, explains how his team conducts 'vanilla research' by purchasing and breaking embedded IoT devices to find security vulnerabilities, such as the My Friend Kayla doll and smart heated drinks cups. He argues that security is often treated as an afterthought by startups, leading to catastrophic failures when wrong chipsets are chosen early in development, making over-the-air updates impossible. Munro details the responsible disclosure process, noting that when vendors ignore or stonewall reports, companies often go out of business, and he advocates for government regulation like California's SB 327 to enforce reasonable security controls.