There has been some talk recently of the ‘Internet of Things’- where home automation is advancing to the point where individual devices will have chips embedded in them and will connect to the internet. So, not only will you be able to monitor your security camera whilst relaxing on the beach in Barbados, or switch the central heating on as you drive home, but your fridge will be able to place an order with your supermarket for milk or cheese when it senses that these have run out, or gone off. But it seems that this can leave our home networks vulnerable
Yes, it means that hackers can now use our household appliances to send out spam
So you should always check that your fridge door is tightly closed, and that your firewall is secure.