When we say ‘you,’ we are in fact talking about you, the reader. You may be thinking “who me? No, I couldn’t hack a device, it takes specialist knowledge and skill and hours of doing whatever magic they need to do to gain access,” but you’d be wrong.
Although many of us have this way of thinking when it comes to hacking and cybercrime, it is actually quite alarming to find out that anyone can do it. Even if they don’t have the first clue about how to do it or where to start.
All it takes is a simple Google search
Do you know when you buy a new WI-FI router and the model and password are on the back? This is how anyone can hack your WI-FI box.
Most of us are guilty of setting up the WI-FI and carrying on with our lives as normal. Some of us are lucky enough to never know the consequences that come with a cyber attack, but there are some of us (the unlucky ones) who do know and it is usually all because of that pesky default password that we didn’t change.
All hackers (or you) have to do is open Google, search for the brand and model of whatever device they want to hack and a connected web browser. Within minutes, they will find thousands of search results showing them how to hack that device using the manufacturer’s default administration username and password and voila! They can now turn on this camera or listen on a baby monitor or steal your credit card information or even identity.
Always change the password straight away!
So anyone can hack into any smart device if they have the time and motivation. What might take you a few hours or a research team 30 minutes can take a hacker who knows what they are doing 5 minutes to gain access to your device, so imagine how quick they can gain access to your whole network.
All of this is possible because most people do not change the default username and password, so the easy solution is just to change it straight away, right? Yes, and no. Yes, this will keep any opportunistic people from attempting to gain access to your devices and it will cover you and your things with a good level of security. When it comes to experts, however, it takes more to protect yourself.
All that you can do to completely stave off any cyber attacks would be to:
- Use strong passwords and update them regularly for every device, especially your WI-FI box
- Make sure that all of your devices are only visible to your private and secure WI-FI network
- Make sure all devices are updated to the most recent software as these have bug fixes that can’t be compromised yet
So there we go, you, yes YOU, can hack into any smart device, so imagine what the experts can do. Think about this every time you set up a new device or you connect something to your WI-FI and you will be able to make sure that you are keeping your information as safe and secure as it can be.
What we can do for you:
RGM Security offers a wide range of security services so if you need advice on how to stay as secure as you can be, please don’t hesitate to contact us!
Need more help or advice with your security? Check out our other useful articles:
- 12 Household Items You Didn’t Know Could be Hacked
- Simple Tips to Keep Your House and Family Safe this Halloween
- How to Deter Hackers and Protect Your Data
