With the holidays fast approaching, many people will ignore widespread security concerns and put smart connected things at the top of their gift wish lists.

But after years contending with the vulnerabilities affecting a lot of the devices coming online as part of the Internet of Things (IoT), there’s also room for optimism. Let me highlight progress in a couple of areas.

First, there’s the emergence of more sophisticated IoT smart home security gateways such as Norton Core that offer strong protection for the multiplying number of always-on, digitally smart devices found in homes and offices. Many of these security cameras, televisions and smart thermostats are vulnerable and have been exploited by malicious hackers in recent botnet attacks.