You want to get a security system to protect your family from people with bad intentions. A home security system might guard against burglars, but does it open your home and family to a different kind of invasion?
If you’re worried that your home security system can be hacked, we have good news and bad news.
The bad news: Yes, your system can be hacked.
The good news: There are several easy ways to protect your devices and connection. As long as you use these best practices, no one can access your system without your permission.
Learn how to safeguard your home security system in the tips below.
How can I protect my home security system from hacking?
Generally, hackers don’t use strings of code to break into your internet connection or devices. The reality of hacking is far simpler.
Thankfully, that means that you can protect your system without paying for any expensive programs or professional help. With a few simple actions, your home and privacy will remain safe.
1. Protect your login info
When you create an account for any service, your username and password are saved in a database. Hackers sometimes break into these databases and release all of the information, including your login info, onto the internet.
Anyone who finds your info can use it to log into that specific account. If you’ve used the same email and password for other platforms, they can access these accounts as well. They will try a wide range of platforms to see what they break into and steal.
The best way to protect yourself against hacking is to use a different password for every account. Then, even if your information is leaked, hackers won’t have access to any more of your information.
Be sure to change any passwords that were stolen or leaked as well. It doesn’t hurt to change all of your passwords periodically to stay ahead of any leaks.
2. Create strong, unique passwords
In addition to using a different password for every account, you should only use strong passwords that are hard to guess.
Don’t use variations of the same passwords. Even if you add a few new characters, hackers might be able to guess the combination you used.
Avoid passwords that may be easily guessed, especially options like “Password,” “p@ssword,” and “1234.” Passwords that include personal information, such as names and birth dates, are also too weak to protect your account.
For the strongest passwords, use a minimum of 16 random characters. The harder it is for you to remember, the more secure it will be. Just be sure to store your passwords somewhere secure so you don’t forget them.
3. Don’t open suspicious emails
Phishing is another common tactic. Thieves will create fake emails or text messages that ask you to use their link to log into your account. Though the webpage may look like the real website, it is actually a portal that steals your email and password.
Rather than clicking any emailed or texted links, open your browser and go to the website yourself. Once you log in, you can check to see if the information in the email was real. You can then handle the issue directly to avoid any potential scams.
4. Set up your account
Some smart devices, including security cameras, are pre-programmed with factory login credentials. To find these usernames and passwords, hackers just have to do a quick search online. In seconds, they can gain access to hundreds of devices.
Check your security system to make sure your devices aren’t still protected with the factory settings. If they are, set a new secure password. This will lock any hackers out and keep your system safe moving forward.
5. Don’t share your login information
Most home security systems allow you to create separate accounts for each user. Even if yours doesn’t, you should only give your credentials to your partner or kids that are old enough to guard the information.
If you have to give your alarm’s code to a housesitter or petsitter, consider creating a temporary option that they can use. Deactivate this code’s access when you aren’t using their services to prevent break-ins.
6. Check your log history
Whenever someone logs into your account, your system creates a timestamp. This entry will likely include when they logged in, where they accessed your account from, and what kind of device they were using. If you think someone is hacking into your account or you just want to make sure it’s secure, you can check your log history to see who has accessed it.
First, check the location in each timestamp. Does it match the area where you live? It may be slightly off if you use a VPN, but it should still be an area you recognize. If the location is somewhere far away, especially if it’s in another country, someone is likely hacking into your account.
The type of device used can be another easy way to identify unauthorized users. If your family only uses iPhones and the user logged in on an Android phone, for example, it may be a hacker. Make sure the brand and model of the device, as well as the browser or app used to log in, matches your family’s preferences.
Finally, you can consider the time of day, though this piece of information isn’t always useful. That said, you may be able to track hackers who log in when your users are asleep or you can confirm that no one logged in.
Once you’ve identified unauthorized access, change your password to something more secure to keep the hackers out.
7. Update your software
Security providers frequently update their apps to fix bugs and resolve vulnerabilities. Updating your system regularly ensures that it has all of the latest protections. Hackers won’t be able to use security gaps to break into your account, hopefully encouraging them to find an easier target.
Explore our blog for more ways to protect your home, family, and information.
