Australian households are facing a sharp rise in cyber attacks on their connected devices, according to the 2025 IoT Security Landscape Report released by Bitdefender and NETGEAR.
The research – which analysed data from over 6.1 million smart homes across Australia, North America, and Europe – found that the average Australian home now contains 22 internet-connected devices and experiences nearly 29 cyber attacks per day. This is a significant increase from the 10 daily attacks recorded in 2024.
The report attributes this escalation to the proliferation of smart devices and the growing sophistication of cybercriminals, who are increasingly using automated tools to exploit vulnerabilities in home networks.
Insecure firmware and outdated devices are identified as common entry points for attackers, highlighting the need for improved security practices among device owners.
A key finding of the report is the risk posed by solar inverters, which are used to convert electricity from solar panels for household use.
The research indicates that these devices can be compromised and potentially leveraged to disrupt national energy grids, creating a new layer of risk for both homeowners and insurers.
Entertainment devices are also frequently targeted. The report notes that streaming devices account for 25.9% of detected vulnerabilities, with smart TVs and IP cameras following at 21.3% and 8.6% respectively.
These devices are often overlooked when it comes to security updates, making them attractive targets for cybercriminals.
Mobile phones remain central to the home IoT ecosystem, representing 19.6% of connected endpoints, while smart TVs and streaming devices make up 9.5% and 7.3%, respectively.
The research highlights that more than 99% of IoT attacks exploit vulnerabilities that have already been identified and patched by manufacturers.
This suggests that many households are not keeping their devices updated, leaving them exposed to preventable risks.
The report identifies overflow and denial-of-service attacks as the most common methods used by attackers, with privilege escalation and code execution attacks also prevalent.
Ciprian Istrate (pictured), senior vice president of operations at Bitdefender Consumer Solutions Group, commented that the rapid increase in connected devices has turned homes into intricate digital networks, exposing everyday items such as lights, cameras, and routers to cyber threats.
“Our research with NETGEAR shows that IoT security can no longer be treated as optional. Protection has to start at the network level, inside routers, gateways, and even at the ISP edge to stay ahead of increasingly automated and industrial-scale attacks,” he said.
Jonathan Oakes, senior vice president and general manager of home networking at NETGEAR, added that trust has become as important as speed and coverage in today’s connected homes.
“The router sits at the heart of every digital home, offering protection at the point where it matters most – the network itself. Security can’t be an afterthought; it must be built in from the start,” he said.
