AVOID BEING A CYBER TARGET
By Robert Hessel
132 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2018
Source 1 Solutions, who
can inspect and evaluate
your system to identify
any vulnerabilities and
provide an action plan
to patch them. Each of
your devices should be
assessed individually,
and your internet
gateway should also be
examined to ensure the
entire network is secure.
Following an evaluation,
an inspector may suggest
purchasing security
devices from trusted
companies that work
like anti-virus software
for your home. These
products are designed
to patrol your virtual
network and deny any
intrusions that may
occur. A comprehensive
package should also provide regular
reporting to highlight potential network
vulnerabilities that need addressing. It’s
wise to stick with recommended brand
names despite the cost differences, as not
all providers adhere to the same strict
standards in their security protocols.
Act Now Before It’s Too Late
In today’s technological world, the
question is not if you’ll be a victim of a cyberattack,
but when. Using connected home
devices without adequate cybersecurity
measures is the virtual equivalent of leaving
your house with doors and windows
unlocked. No matter your strategy, work
with a trusted professional like Source 1
Solutions, a global information security
company with technicians experienced
in 360 degrees of security. Start today
and schedule a consultation to keep your
home and family safe from the threat of
cybercriminals. 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: Robert Hessel at Source 1
Solutions can be contacted at (727) 538-4114
or visit source1security.com.
A recent report by
Berg Insight
stated North
America is the
world’s “most advanced
smart home market.” The
number of smart homes
in Europe and North
America reached 45
million in 2017, and it’s
estimated it will be 91
million by 2020.
You probably own a
smart TV, Google Home,
or Nest thermostat. It’s
now estimated that
26 percent of all U.S.
broadband households
own at least one smart
home device.
Even if you don’t
consider your home to
be completely smart,
by owning even one
of these devices your household is now
participating in the phenomenon of the
Internet of Things (or IoT), a network of
devices that can collect and transfer data
amongst themselves without requiring
human interaction. Examples of household
IoT devices are the doorbell camera you can
live stream on your phone, or Alexa and her
ability to control your living room lights.
There’s no doubt that these devices
provide amazing benefits in terms of
security. The ability to check that your
doors are locked while on vacation has
undoubtedly provided families peace of
mind. However, an estimated 80 percent
of these devices are not sufficiently secure
and can be vulnerable to hacking.
A Smart Home Doesn’t Mean a Secure
Home
You may not think of your climate
controls as being a target for cybercriminals,
but these kinds of attacks are on the rise,
with sophisticated burglars targeting
affluent neighborhoods, using these
devices to enter homes. By hacking into
security cameras and digital pin pad locks,
hackers can tell when a family is away from
their home, unlock doors, and perform an
uninterrupted burglary because they know
the house is empty. Many parents also use
these cameras to monitor their children’s
bedrooms, presenting even more worrying
possibilities for criminal activity.
Even if you don’t have cameras in
your home, something as simple as an
unsecured Wi-Fi network can allow
hackers to gain access to sensitive personal
information, such as medical records or
bank details. Reports have shown time
and again that many users don’t update
or even implement passwords for their
Wi-Fi networks, leaving these vulnerable
to even the most novice of hackers. Without
a strong security system in place, victims
may not even be aware a breach has taken
place until their identity has been stolen
or their bank account is drained.
Here is the good news. Updating
your IoT security doesn’t have to be an
expensive headache. You can take basic
steps by researching how to secure
individual devices and updating network
passwords with secure settings, such as
including special characters and numbers.
The next step in securing your home
is to contact a smart home and business
security service provider, such as
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