Month: February 2025

Many Americans still don’t understand how easily IoT devices can get bricked

Smart device users show ignorance around importance of ongoing support.

I don’t know who needs to hear this, but your connected gadgets need software updates to retain not just their security but also, frequently, key features. If you read Ars Technica regularly, you probably don’t need to hear that. You already know that smart device manufacturers have a reputation for ending support for often-expensive devices, making them insecure and/or not work as intended. But, per a survey from Consumer Reports of 2,130 consumers, many Americans are buying into the Internet of Things (IoT) without understanding the risks involved in losing vendor support: wasted money when devices are bricked and cyber and physical security threats.

Consumer Reports’ American Experiences Survey, taken from December 6–16, claims the margin of error for its survey is +/- 2.59 percentage points, with 95 percent confidence. The publication said that 36 percent of respondents were four-year college graduates, 63 percent have a household income of at least $50,000, and the median age of respondents was 47 (you can find more information about Consumer Reports’ methodology here).

Consumer Reports' subsequent report, released today, revealed a worrying potential education gap around IoT devices and the importance of ongoing software support:

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