The Enemy Within – Part I: Protecting Your Home Network

Most of us have heard horror stories of computer hackers who steal our personal information and then go on a shopping spree with a new line of credit in our name. An often unmentioned, but increasing, risk is now appearing thanks to a new concept – the Internet of Things.

Do you have a home security system with video cameras? Are you able to view those cameras from your smartphone or other internet connected computers? If so, your cameras may also be visible to others – perhaps even to folks you would rather not have watching your house.

Even more concerning to this author are wireless thermostats – it’s great to be able to adjust your home temperature from your smartphone, but it could also allow others to know that you are not home! And if someone knows that you are not there – will they be able to unlock your front door via your internet-connected deadbolt? (But it still sounds really good to be able to unlock your front door for a family member from your smartphone, right?)

The truth is that all technology comes at a cost, and most modern technology leverages the “cloud”, meaning that your information is not your own – it lives out in the public domain on shared servers. When considering your latest and greatest home gadget, be sure to consider the security implications to your home and take necessary precautions.

A critical first step to securing your home electronically is to lock your digital door. Have you changed the default password on your home internet router? If you have not, you should stop reading this article now and go do so! I’ll wait . . .

Most home WiFi routers create a bubble of wireless internet connectivity that extends up to 500 feet from your router – if you live out in the woods, this does not pose a risk, but if you are in an apartment or crowded subdivision, there is a good chance that your neighbors are able to see your internet router, and if you have not changed the password, they may be able to connect to the internet through your router – they may even be able to connect to your home computers!

Another risk at home are new wireless printers, many of which have a network router built in. These printers connect automatically to your home network, which makes setup a breeze. However, many of these printers have limited security controls in place by default, allowing bad actors to connect to your wireless printer and then “bridge” into your home network.

I would love to be able to give you detailed technical information to secure your home network, but the broad range of devices and various protocols used would fill volumes and I only get a few pages. In most cases, new digital products come with a users manual that provides detailed steps for securing the device, and I strongly encourage you to do so as soon as possible!

When it comes to passwords, whether on your home network or on an Internet site, the best rule of security is to change your password often – at least four times per year. And, when you do, you may be surprised at how many things you need to re-connect to your network. You might even decide that some of those things do not actually need network access!

At the end of the day, the digital doorway to your home should be just as secure as the physical doors to your house – and if you lost a set of keys to your house, wouldn’t you change the locks?

Coming soon – Part II – Closing Digital Windows . . .