Wireless Security System Owners: Learn the Router Lesson
A homeowner who purchases a DIY wireless security system does so with the reasonable expectation that, the purchased equipment will be secure after installation. After all, what good is a wireless home security system if it’s not secure against hackers who might try to disable it? Well, it turns out that some DIY security systems may not be as secure as their owners think.
The problem is not with the equipment itself. When set up correctly, wireless devices are very secure. Rather, the problem is that a lot of wireless security devices allow users to deploy them without changing the default security settings. In other words, wireless security equipment is a lot like wi-fi routers you buy off the shelf.
Wireless security system equipment and wi-fi routers, come with default security settings for both, user names and passwords. This is necessary to give users access to the software during initial setup with the expectation that the user, will change the username and password during the process of setting up the software. But that is not always the case, and unfortunately, there are quite a few security devices that do not force a change in settings to work properly.
Vulnerable Systems around the World
How dire is the situation for wireless security systems? It is by no means a catastrophe in the making, but a recent report out of Germany suggests there are wireless security devices that are set-up with software using easy to hack passwords and usernames such as ‘1234’ or ‘admin1234’. If users don’t change those settings upon initial deployment, a piece of free software downloaded from the internet could easily crack the devices.
In light of that, there are a few points to note. First, the good news: your average burglar does not carry around a mobile device capable of hacking usernames and passwords for the purposes of shutting down security systems. If you have not changed the default settings on your devices, you’re not in imminent danger of being victimized within the next 24 hours.
Here’s the bad news: your system could get hacked if you avoid employing the router lesson. The lesson here is that after you deploy wireless home security devices using factory settings, you should change your password and security settings. During the configuration stage, be sure to choose usernames and passwords that include numbers, letters, and characters. We also suggest changing your passwords on a regular basis.
Random Password Generators
You can take the hassle out of coming up with secure user names and passwords simply by using a random password generator. There are hundreds of them available on the internet. Start with something that is a minimum of seven characters and then go from there.
Also – and this is VERY important – note the usernames and passwords in a journal or another means of back up where this date would be securely stored. There’s no one to e-mail for a lost password if you forget the details assigned to your security system. And the last thing you want to have to do is, reset your system and start over.
A wireless security system is an inexpensive and effective way to reduce the chances of your home being victimized by burglars. But as with anything else, wireless security equipment has to be used correctly. So if you own a system, learn the lesson of the wireless router: change the factory settings upon initial deployment. Doing so reduces the risk of your system being hacked and disabled.
Sources:
1.Beta News – http://betanews.com/2016/06/30/home-alarm-default-username-password/