Ingenious Lightbulb Hack Can Cause Seizures

Connected lightbulbs, though one of the few possibly-justifiable products in the gross melange that is the IoT market, are sometimes contributors to that rank unsecurity. And now researchers have shown just how evil attacks on lightbulbs can be, claiming their hacks can cause epileptic fits and steal information from segregated, supposedly-secure networks in startling sub rosa fashion. All they needed was to subtly modulate light pulses in two bulbs on the market to convey data to a telescope up to 100 meters away, or have them create a strobe effect to bring on seizures. Both attacks were possible because authentication on the lightbulbs – a Philips Hue and a LimitlessLED – were found wanting, allowing anyone who could locate the devices to send commands.