Wyoming Experts: Cyber Threats Target Everyday Life and Devices

Cyber threats are targeting everything from smart fridges to hospital blood supplies

Hackers can now compromise everyday household appliances, including smart refrigerators and robot vacuums, according to cybersecurity experts in Wyoming.

This expanding digital vulnerability follows recent incidents in Europe where attackers manipulated computerized controllers to spoil millions of dollars worth of food and threaten hospital blood supplies.

The risk is not confined to distant metropolitan hubs or international corporations. In Wyoming, the state’s least-populated region, the financial impact of digital crime is accelerating. According to a report from Cowboy State Daily, Wyoming residents and businesses filed 1,552 complaints with the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center in 2025, resulting in $25.8 million in reported losses.

That figure represents a 520% spike compared to 2020, when reported losses sat at $5 million. The FBI has noted that cyberthreats and cyber-enabled crime will likely continue to evolve as society adopts more emerging technologies.

The vulnerability of the Internet of Things

The integration of computer chips into common items—often called the “Internet of Things”—has created new entry points for malicious actors. Matt Kelly, the Chief Information Security Officer at the University of Wyoming, notes that as the price of technology drops, connectivity is appearing in more products than is strictly necessary.

Internet of things (iot) security challenges

“Most people don’t think about, ‘Hey, I should patch my refrigerator, or patch my Furby that I got my kids for Christmas,’” Kelly said.

While users typically update software on smartphones and computers, these routine security patches are frequently missed for connected appliances. This lack of maintenance leaves devices like smart TVs, gaming consoles, and even doorbell cameras exposed.

In Europe, hackers successfully exploited devices that utilized default usernames and passwords or ran outdated software to gain access to commercial freezer networks. At the University of Wyoming, Kelly manages these risks by ensuring that critical items, such as smart freezers used in cafeterias, are isolated on separate networks to prevent a single breach from spreading.

Human error remains the primary gateway

Despite the technical sophistication of modern hacking, many breaches occur because of human interaction rather than software flaws alone. Hayden Hassinger, a co-owner of Geek Garage in Cheyenne, suggests that social engineering is often more prevalent than direct device hacking.

Social engineering involves using deceptive tactics, such as suspicious pop-up ads or unsolicited text messages, to trick individuals into granting access. Hassinger noted that in his decade of experience, actual computer viruses are rare, but the fear of them is a powerful tool used by scammers.

“The bottom line is, if you’ve been hacked, chances are it’s because you helped it happen,” Hassinger told Cowboy State Daily.

The specific details regarding the ransom amount or whether the organization paid to regain system access were never made public.

CyberWyoming director recommends protecting small business infrastructure

For small businesses and municipal services, the stakes involve both financial survival and public safety. Laura Baker, Executive Director of the nonprofit CyberWyoming, works to help microbusinesses reduce the anxiety and risk associated with tech infrastructure. She points out that an IT disaster can occur rapidly through a single deceiving link or an unvetted external vendor.

Baker recommends that individuals isolate smart home devices, such as robot vacuums that map house layouts or smart TVs, on a private network with a separate password. She expressed skepticism regarding the necessity of highly connected appliances, questioning the security implications of an $8,000 refrigerator that communicates with the user and external servers.

Local governments face similar challenges in securing essential services. Michael Szewczyk, interim support services director for the City of Casper, noted that almost every aspect of city operations, from water plants to asphalt work orders, relies on computerized technology.

The battle against cybercrime is described by Szewczyk as a constant race. He noted that while attackers only need to be successful once, defenders must be successful every time.

Year	Wyoming Reported Financial Losses (FBI)	Percentage Change
2020	$5 million	—
2025	$25.8 million	520% increase

As artificial intelligence makes it easier for bad actors to find and exploit vulnerabilities, agencies like the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) are urging industries in healthcare, food, and transportation to “harden” their IT systems. Whether the next major breach targets a global supply chain or a single household appliance remains an open question for security professionals.

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