The University of Canberra’s Center for Internet Safety has criticized the lack of protection for connected home devices, in a new report. It highlighted the risk presented by two-way communication systems used in smart metering, and identified LPWAN communications as vulnerable, advising that vendors must develop robust protection frameworks, currently not in place for the meters. Smart meters measure the amount of water, gas or electricity used, and can provide close to real-time visibility, which is necessary for emerging smart grid applications that promise to save both energy and operational budgets. The meters are a foundational technology, required to remotely send readings back to the utilities. Smart meters operate in either one of two formats – one-way communication, or bi-directional.…