Colonial Pipeline paid the hackers who shut down some of its networks nearly $5 million in ransom, a U.S. official familiar with the matter said Thursday.

ORLANDO, Fla. – Over 14 billion connected devices, also called “smart” devices, were used in 2019, and by 2021, that number has reached 25 billion. But while turning on your oven or unlocking your door from your phone may be convenient for you, it is also convenient for hackers. Here are some ways to outsmart these smart home hackers. There are currently 42 million homes in the U.S. that are considered smart homes and over 40 percent of those have at least one device vulnerable to a cyber-attack. AdIf you decide to sell, give away, or toss out your smart device, most manufacturers advise that you factory reset your device and remove all personal data.