News item | 06-10-2025 | 09:00
In the past year, three -quarters of the Dutch had to deal with attempts to cyber crime. For this, poorly secured devices are also used that are connected to the internet. Only two thirds of the Dutch say to update his smart devices often or regularly, but also a significant part does not do this or only rarely. So there is still a profit to be gained.
This is evident from the recently published cyber security research Alert Online 2025 from the Ministry of Economic Affairs. To point out Dutch people the importance of updating smart devices, the ministry is starting the campaign again today ‘Do your updates’.
2.5 million unsafe devices
Out CBS figures It appears that Dutch people are using more and more smart devices that are connected to the internet (IoT). In 2020, 8 percent of people had such a device, already 89 percent in 2024. According to the cyber security research, two thirds of people provide regular updates to these devices. Seven in ten do that to make the devices work safely. However, a third of people do not do that immediately. This means that there are at least 2.5 million devices in the Netherlands that have not always had the latest updates.
Smart devices come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from smart litter boxes to smart speakers, doorbells, baby monitors and smart TVs, from robot vacuum cleaners to smart toothbrushes, thermostats, white goods and even children’s toys. Cyber criminals can hack or take over and use poorly secure devices for DDOS attacks, phishing emails, installing ransomware and data theft. Moreover, they can control the device remotely, depending on the type. That is why it is important to secure those smart devices well with the latest updates.
Minister Karremans kicks off with hacking home
Minister Karremans of Economic Affairs is kicking the campaign today with a short internship at Ethical Hackers Company Access42 in Amsterdam. During that internship he gets a flash course Hacking Smart Devices. He also sees how a router and a smart TV are hacked in a house, while the residents sit on the couch unsuspectingly. Subsequently, the minister is briefed by Barend Frans, with the police for public-private partnerships in the field of cyber crime, about the risks of poorly secure routers. They form the digital front door of the house and turn out to be an attractive target for cyber criminals.
Cyber attacks increasingly fiercer
Criminals are increasingly penetrating through digital equipment at home. This year, thousands of routers were hijacked to gain access to complete networks. Smart devices are also vulnerable: two years ago it turned out via smart lamps WiFi passwords are accessible. This year was in the news that millions smart speakers are easy to hack. Even smart feeders For animals are not always safe and unwanted information about when people are on vacation.
Smart devices can be used unnoticed as part of a DDOS attack. And that kind of attacks, as we have been able to read in the media in recent months, are becoming increasingly fierce. On 12 and 13 September, Security Platform Cloudflare de toughest attack ever.
Minister Karremans: “We can no longer see online security for obviousness. Because the threat is very real: not only criminals are out on personal data and money, but some foreign states also use offensive cyber programs to spy on or sabotage companies, large and small. That is why it is important that entrepreneurs and consumers take a regular up -to -date and targeted way. ask attention. ”