Who doesn’t like to live in a smart house where gadgets already know what to do without too much interaction from the owner? The future proposes to us exactly such a world where technology will become even more important than before. But a lot of such ‘sci-fi’ aspects are already here.
Regardless of how much humanity will advance technologically, there will always be ways for cybercriminals to explore vulnerabilities. Luckily enough, there are some simple ways to diminish the chances of getting hacked:
Change the default usernames and passwords
Most products come with default passwords, and the chances are that hackers already know them. IoT gadgets work in the same way, and you should change those passwords and usernames ASAP. If you also own a device that doesn’t allow you to change the password, there’s always the option of buying a new gadget.
Give the router a name
Your router’s manufacturer gave a name to your gadget, and it might identify the model. Therefore, it’s also a good idea to give your router a name that’s not revealing any of your personal information.
Update your software
Many updates issued for smart devices are aiming to fix security flaws, which means that you shouldn’t avoid installing them. Your IoT device manufacturers also send important updates. If those updates aren’t pushed right under your nose by the manufacturers, you can always check for them on the makers’ websites.
Use strong encryption for WiFi
When you set up WiFi network access, it’s great to use a strong encryption method within your router’s settings. WPA2 will do, as it will keep both your network and communications secure. If you are using NETGEAR WiFi extender then you can login to the router using orbilogin or mywifiext.
Avoid public networks
Let’s suppose you want to manage your IoT devices using your smartphone in a pub. Using a public WiFi network is risky because someone can view and steal your data. The best way to deal with such situations is to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) or avoid public networks completely.
By the end of 2018, there were about 22 billion IoT connected devices worldwide, and we can only expect the number to go up.
Tim M. Hill helped bring Digital-Overload from a weekly newsletter to a full-fledged news site by creating a new website and branding. He continues to assist in keeping the site responsive and well organized for the readers. As a writer to Digital-Overload, Tim mainly covers mobile news and gadgets.