Get All Access for $5/mo

A Casino Gets Hacked Through a Fish-Tank Thermometer Are your fish tanks secure?

By Gene Marks

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Mirko_Rosenau | Getty Images

Secure your laptop. Secure your smart phone. Secure your tablet. And, before I forget, secure your fish tank. Yes, you heard me. Your fish tank.

That was the lessoned learned a few years ago from the operators of a North American casino. According to a 2018 Business Insider report, cybersecurity executive Nicole Eagan of security firm Darktrace told the story while addressing a conference.

"The attackers used that (a fish-tank thermometer) to get a foothold in the network," she recounted. "They then found the high-roller database and then pulled that back across the network, out the thermostat, and up to the cloud."

Can this really be possible? It certainly can. And you can blame the Internet of Things.

Related: That Time Ben Franklin Slept in the Same Bed With John Adams

Maybe you've heard of IoT, but in case you haven't it's easily explained. It's all about dumb, inanimate objects. And no, I'm not talking about members of Congress. These are elevators, engines, machinery, trucks, phones, sprinkler systems, inventory and, yes, even fish-tank thermometers. These objects are being equipped with sensors and then connected back to networks, databases and communication systems. So much so that by 2025 some analysts predict that there will be as many as 31 billion connected devices worldwide.

This is a good thing, because the "smarter" you make these objects, the more information we can glean from them to ward off issues and optimize their use. Rolls Royce, for example, is using IoT-connected airplane engines to report back performance data on the fly. Elevator-maker ThyssenKrupp is creating "smart buildings" by connecting their individual lifts to monitoring stations around the world in order to warn of any potential problems.

Connected devices are helping us track the status of deliveries, the hydration of golf courses and the optimal flow of water through pumping stations. And yes, even the temperature of fish tanks in a casino. Because no one wants to see dead fish when gambling away their life savings. It's kind of a buzzkill.

But all of these connected devices are creating an enormous opportunity for hackers. That's because many of them aren't equipped with the kinds of security protections seen in laptops, servers, phones and tablets. And unfortunately, many of us aren't aware of the risks.

"The industrial sector is facing a new set of challenges when it comes to securing a converged IT-OT environment," Tim Erlin, vice president of product management and strategy at security firm Tripwire, told Security Info Watch. "In the past, cybersecurity was focused on IT assets like servers and workstations, but the increased connectivity of systems requires that industrial security professionals expand their understanding of what's in their environment. You can't protect what you don't know."

Related: Why Did The BBC Send Their Staff to a Course On How to Drink Water?

So how do we, as business owners, address this problem? The only tactic is just to stay ahead of it. Which is why it's important to bring in an IT expert regularly to do a complete assessment of our network security. But we need to make sure that such an assessment includes evaluating any and every connected device. That means our building heating controls, smart speakers, smoke detectors, alarm systems, overhead lighting and even the coffee machine in the break room.

Oh, and don't forget the fish tank.

Gene Marks

Entrepreneur Leadership Network® VIP

President of The Marks Group

Gene Marks is a CPA and owner of The Marks Group PC, a ten-person technology and financial consulting firm located near Philadelphia founded in 1994.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Science & Technology

Why Businesses Are Relying on Automation to Survive the Labor Crisis

Robots are revolutionizing industries by addressing labor shortages and enhancing efficiency, while businesses navigate challenges like workforce adaptation and high implementation costs.

Green Entrepreneur®

How Global Business Leaders Can Build a Sustainable Supply Chain

Businesses can build sustainable supply chains by leveraging technology to reduce environmental impact, optimize resources and track emissions while balancing operational efficiency and sustainability goals.

Leadership

Visionaries or Vague Promises? Why Companies Fail Without Leaders Who See Beyond the Bottom Line

Visionary leaders turn bold ideas into lasting impact by building resilience, clarity and future-ready teams.

Marketing

5 Critical Mistakes to Avoid When Giving a Presentation

Are you tired of enduring dull presentations? Over the years, I have compiled a list of common presentation mistakes and how to avoid them. Here are my top five tips.

Productivity

6 Habits That Help Successful People Maximize Their Time

There aren't enough hours in the day, but these tips will make them feel slightly more productive.

Side Hustle

'Hustling Every Day': These Friends Started a Side Hustle With $2,500 Each — It 'Snowballed' to Over $500,000 and Became a Multimillion-Dollar Brand

Paris Emily Nicholson and Saskia Teje Jenkins had a 2020 brainstorm session that led to a lucrative business.