Report says solar panels also have security vulnerabilities that could be exploited by hackers for cyberattacks

Palo Alto Networks, an American cyber security company, recently released a report stating that it discovered a serious security vulnerability in the product firmware of Contec, a Japanese smart solar panel manufacturer, that can be used by hackers for cyber attacks.

According to Contec's official website, these solar panels have been installed in approximately 30,000 locations. The panels are part of Contec's SolarView system, which actively monitors solar power plants, making each solar panel a veritable Internet of Things device.

The vulnerability discovered this time, along with more than 20 other vulnerabilities, constitutes a variant of what Palo Alto Networks describes as the Mirai botnet. The Mirai botnet was first discovered in 2016. Due to the rise of IoT devices, this network has brought full potential for damage, and it still shows no signs of slowing down.

A review of the Palo Alto Networks report found that in addition to Contec, other vulnerable IoT devices also involve TP-Link, Netgear, MediaTek, Tenda and many other well-known manufacturers, ranging from routers to CCTV cameras to solar panels. Various IoT devices have security risks.

Palo Alto Networks also stated that due to the low frequency of firmware updates for IoT devices and the low willingness of users to actively update, many devices may still be running old firmware from many years ago, which will further increase the risk of cyber attacks on IoT devices. .