Google is beta testing a tool to protect users’ routers and printers. The functionality works in a relatively simple way, verifying that the request for connection to the private network, shared between the home devices, was made by a trusted source. Intrusion into these electronics can serve as a means for attacks against other devices.
Since the feature is still in beta, there’s no timeline for when it will officially roll out to Chrome. The tool was released in version 123 of Google’s browser. At its core, the feature will detect if malicious websites are looking for security flaws in the devices that are part of your home network.
Devices such as printers and routers are often overlooked as vulnerabilities for hacker attacks. The same can happen with other Internet of Things (IoT) devices. One of the reasons for this may be related to the fact that they are little used, or that the absence of an interface can lead the layman to think that there is no risk of cyberattacks.
However, using the printer as an example, if it has an internet connection, it has an IP and can be a target for hacker groups for different purposes. Cybercriminals can use an IP device for DDoS attacks or to break into a computer. In the case of routers, a firmware vulnerability can be used in intrusions.
The purpose of Chrome’s new functionality (which is still in beta version of the browser) is to serve as a shield for the user’s home network. By preventing these “forgotten at the barbecue” devices from being hacked, the tool creates an additional barrier to protect the private network.
