# Module 18. IoT and OT Hacking The significant development of the paradigm of the Internet of Things (IoT) is contributing to the proliferation of devices in daily life. From smart homes to automated healthcare applications, IoT is ubiquitous. However, despite the potential of IoT to make our lives easier and more comfortable, we cannot underestimate its vulnerability to cyber-attacks. IoT devices lack basic security, which makes them prone to various cyber-attacks. The objective of a hacker in exploiting IoT devices is to gain unauthorized access to users’ devices and data. A hacker can use compromised IoT devices to build an army of botnets, which, in turn, is used to launch DDoS attacks. Owing to a lack of security policies, smart devices are easy targets for hackers who can compromise these devices to spy on users’ activities, misuse sensitive information (such as patients’ health records, etc.), install ransomware to block access to the devices, monitor victims’ activities using CCTV cameras, commit credit-card-related fraud, gain access to users’ homes, or recruit the devices in an army of botnets to carry out DDoS attacks. As an ethical hacker and penetration tester, you must have sound knowledge of hacking IoT and OT platforms using various tools and techniques. The labs in this module will provide you with real-time experience in performing footprinting and analyzing traffic between IoT and OT devices. --- # Agent Instructions: Querying This Documentation If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question. Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter: ``` GET https://ceh-practical.cavementech.com/module-18.-iot-and-ot-hacking.md?ask= ``` The question should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language. The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation. Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.