Tech nightmare: Toothbrushes could be used in cyberattacks, experts warn

Security experts have warned that millions of hacked toothbrushes could be used in a massive cyberattack.

Internet-connected toothbrushes could form a botnet, allowing them to launch a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack that overwhelms websites and servers with massive amounts of web traffic.

Major websites could be knocked offline as a result of the attack, according to the Swiss newspaper Aargauer Zeitung, which first reported the threat, resulting in millions of dollars of lost revenue.

The topic of toothbrushes being used for DDoS attacks was presented during an interview as an illustration

The issue was initially reported as an actual incident, but Fortinet later clarified that it was a hypothetical scenario.

“The topic of toothbrushes being used for DDoS attacks was presented during an interview as an illustration of a given type of attack, and it is not based on research from Fortinet or FortiGuard Labs,” a spokesperson said.

“It appears that due to translations, the narrative on this topic has been stretched to the point where hypothetical and actual scenarios are blurred.”

Fortinet warned about the dangers of smart devices, which can include webcams, baby monitors, doorbells, and household appliances.

“Every device that is connected to the Internet is a potential target—or can be misused for an attack,” said Stefan Züger, head of system technology at Fortinet Switzerland. Mr. Züger advised owners of smart technologies to take measures to protect themselves.

“Otherwise, sooner or later, you will become a victim, or your device will be misused for attacks,” he said.

The continued rise in popularity of such devices has coincided with fresh security concerns about the risks they may pose if protections are not put in place.

A recent report from network performance firm Netscout noted an “unprecedented growth” in malicious botnets, with activity doubling in January.

“These consistently elevated levels indicate a new weaponization of the cloud against the global internet… [and] confirm that a dangerous new wave of cybercrime is underway,” the report stated.