A new study shows the internet is far more vulnerable to attacks than previously thought

The internet may be far more vulnerable to attacks from internet-connected devices controlled by hackers than was previously thought, new data suggests.

It is estimated that attacks on the internet in October that caused several major websites to go offline—including Twitter, Reddit and Netflix—were caused by tens of thousands of compromised Internet of Things (IoT) devices, such as smart thermostats, fridges and webcams. New research from security firm BullGuard estimates that up to 185 million devices may be vulnerable to hackers wishing to perform even more devastating attacks.