The number of new malware samples in the wild this year targeting connected internet-of-things (IoT) devices has already more than doubled last year’s total.

The FTC announced the IoT Home Inspector Challenge, a contest with the goal of coming up with a patching solution fit for consumer-grade connected devices used in the home.

Cisco patched a handful of issues across its software line this week, including two critical vulnerabilities that could lead to the complete compromise of any devices running the software, and a hardcoded password that exists in some access points made by the company. According to security advisories pushed out on Wednesday, the most serious bugs exist...