Icon Labs has released what it claims to be the industry’s first software firewall that protects home automation devices from Internet-based attacks. Dubbed “Floodgate at Home”, the software features the Icon Labs suite of security products to provide device protection, management and incident reporting to home users and service providers via a secure web page.

 

This OEM software product is intended to be licensed and embedded by manufacturers of smart home Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices. Manufacturers can embed Floodgate in processor and communication chips in connected devices such as thermostats, window alarms, temperature sensors, home health sensors, etc. After the device is connected to the Web, the end user, home system integrator or service provider sets up the security arrangement. This limits access to a few specific people, phone numbers, or the IP address of a specific laptop or tablet.

 

By stopping communication from unapproved devices, the software blocks unauthorized access, protects against automated hacking drones, and can even prevent the device from being discovered by hackers. It is designed for use in embedded systems and can be used with operating systems such as Embedded Linux, Integrity, VelOSity, VxWorks, LynxOS, MQX or eCos, as well as devices without an operating system.