Which practice can make IoT infrastructure vulnerable to online attacks?

Allowing all IP addresses to access an Internet of Things (IoT) device significantly increases its vulnerability to online attacks. When a device is configured to accept connections from any IP address, it widens the potential attack surface. This means that any malicious actor can attempt to interact with the device, making it an easy target for exploitation.

In a secure IoT environment, access controls are essential to restrict who can communicate with devices. By limiting access to known and trusted IP addresses, network administrators can significantly mitigate the risk of unauthorized access and potential attacks. Implementing security measures such as whitelisting specific IP addresses helps to safeguard IoT devices from threats like unauthorized monitoring, control, or data theft.

On the other hand, practices such as regularly updating firmware, implementing strong passwords, and using secure communication protocols are crucial for enhancing the security of IoT devices. These practices help address known vulnerabilities, strengthen the authentication mechanisms, and ensure that data transmitted between devices is secure, respectively. However, if access is unrestricted, these measures may not provide enough protection against malicious attempts to exploit the device.