Just as we take care with our physical security, so we also need to lock our virtual doors and windows against intruders.
It could almost be a scene from a horror movie: having your small child’s baby monitor hacked so that pranksters speak to your child, and snoop on them – and you – through the monitor’s camera.
Thanks to today’s high-tech Wi-Fi-enabled baby monitors, this story has unfortunately become fact and not fiction – but only if you unintentionally let the cyber intruders into your home in a virtual manner.
Like any connected device, a Wi-Fi enabled baby monitor needs to be protected with rigorous home cybersecurity.
Let’s take a look.
Connected Devices: Reward and Risk
It’s not just big companies that are at risk any more.
Our homes today are filled with a wide range of gadgets and devices that need an Internet connection to work properly, including laptops, tablets, phones, TVs, security cameras, smart fridges and baby monitors. The flip side of the real convenience this brings to our daily lives is that it also opens the virtual door to multiple cybersecurity risks.
Hackers are opportunistic and ready to take advantage of any lapse in security to launch a targeted attack on anyone – repeat, anyone.
If cybercriminals can gain access to your home network, they can steal personal and financial information, and infect your devices with viruses and malware.
Just like the big corporates out there, you too could be subjected to a ransomware attack, and receive a nasty message that says your locked Data will only be unlocked once you pay the money (please note: even if you do, there are no guarantees that the hackers will play nice and give you back access to your Data after payment has been made).
The good news is that it’s fairly easy to secure your connected devices, from laptops to baby monitors and security cameras. It’s mainly about common sense.
Securing Your Home Wi-Fi Network
Here are some steps you can take to keep your network safe from hackers:
Update your Wi-Fi equipment: The latest routers and extenders support the Wi-Fi 6 (802.11 ax) standard, which includes WPA3 password encryption. This feature addresses known vulnerabilities in WPA2, making it more resilient to hacking attempts.
Change the default username and password: This is the first and most important thing you should do to secure your home network. Wi-Fi providers automatically assign a username and password to the network – but did you know that hackers can easily find these default passwords online? Choose a strong password that combines letters, numbers and symbols to make it more difficult to crack.
Keep your router software up to date: Most routers won’t have the option of an auto-update, so you’ll need to manually update the software to ensure your home network is protected.
Change your Wi-Fi SSID and password: When you first set up your home network, you’ll be asked to create a publicly visible network name, known as a SSID (Service Set identifier). Most devices are configured with a default network name from the manufacturer. Changing the default name makes it a lot more difficult for a hacker to know what type of router you have. It might be best not to make it too personal though: ‘Ben Smith Home’ is just giving would-be hackers access to personal details and giving them their first clue.
Use firewalls: We put fences and walls around our homes, and in a similar way, most Wi-Fi routers will contain a built-in network firewall that will help to protect attacks on your network. You will need to check that your home router’s firewall is turned on.
Invest in device internet security: Internet security protects devices from threats both on and off the Wi-Fi network. Most operating systems include device security these days, but you can never be too secure, similar to your home security.
For Parents of Small Ones
Let’s go back to the baby monitor story.
A Wi-Fi–enabled baby monitor links a camera’s feed to an app on your smartphone or laptop. Once it’s part of the network, your baby monitor is susceptible to outside attacks in the same way as your laptop.
As well as practising good cybersecurity on your home Wi-Fi network, here are some additional steps to take to prevent your monitor from being hacked.
- Password, password, password: It can’t be emphasised enough – change the default password on the baby monitor to something stronger.
- Updates, again: Regularly install all updates from the manufacturer to ensure you have the latest security patches.
Close the Door!
Many people are completely unaware of the security risks that their connected devices can present if they aren’t properly protected with a secure Wi-Fi network. In South Africa, we take great pains to keep our doors and windows secure.
It’s time to do the same with our home Wi-Fi networks.
You don’t have to become another statistic.
Vox Wi-Fi has the solution for a fast, stable and scalable network connection, whatever your particular needs might be.
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