In December of 2019, the FBI issued a warning against a new threat to home and business networks being called “drive-by hacking”. Innocent seeming devices like smart light bulbs, speakers, and every other apparatus that connects to the home/business network, have all been shown to be especially vulnerable to this new form of attack.
As IT support Jacksonville leaders, we are asked frequently from clients the best ways to prevent hacks from occurring. In today’s spotlight series, we’ll look at different ways that you can protect your systems from those wishing to intrude into your private network.
What is drive-by hacking?
The internet of things, or IoT, is the new norm for modern society. IoT is all of the computers, printers, smart hubs, other machines, and even animals and people that are all connected and have the ability to transfer data back and forth over a network. This interconnectivity is really cool – allowing such innovations as turning on your smart bulbs from your smartphone, beaming your workout log from your fitness tracker to an app on your smartphone, setting the music, turning on the sprinklers, connecting to your printer, etcetera, etcetera. Simply put, in business and at home, our world is more connected than ever before.
With increasingly sophisticated cyber attacks becoming commonplace, connected devices represent a potential vulnerability in your network. However, even after years of these devices being offered to the general public by the tens of millions, the FBI has only recently begun issuing security warnings. The newest and arguably most worrisome warning issued by the FBI’s famed cybersecurity division, is against the threat of drive-by hacking.
With drive-by hacking, hackers need not be physically within your home or business. Instead, they can drive along and, with a simple scan, find vulnerable devices.
Devices that are Especially Vulnerable to Hacking
As you read this article, take a second to think about the many different connected devices around you. Our world relies on technology for everything. Whether you’re reading on your tablet, using a laptop, on a smartphone, playing on a gaming console, or one of a hundred others, all your devices connected to the network create a gateway for a hack to occur. Here’s our top devices that are vulnerable to hacking:
- PC: letting hackers have access to your home or work computer can be as simple as spyware attached to a funny picture or meme you download or that was sent to you in an email and you download. Many different state and local agencies, hospitals, small and large businesses, and even law enforcement agencies have all been hit with attacks, especially from ransomware. Ransomware attacks often take the form of looking like a legitimate email – maybe an invoice or a website link – but then when the user clicks on these, the computer becomes infected with the virus code. Also, stay away from malicious sites, especially those dealing with adult content. These sites are rife with hackers looking to infiltrate your device.
- Laptops/smartphones: hotspots, or public Wifi, are typically under-secured or unsecured altogether leaving your device open to hacking any time you access connect. Make sure your connected devices like laptops and smartphones have their own antivirus software installed. Most security software manufactures allow for multiple device downloads with the purchase of a plan.
- Smart devices: smart TVs, robotic vacuums, lightbulbs, music devices, wireless printers, you name it. Many devices that are available today are knock offs of an original. While getting a great deal on Amazon for a off-brand device seems nice, the manufacturers of these products may not follow the same security protocols for their products that more notable companies do.
- Work networks: once one device in a network becomes vulnerable, it usually is a chain reaction for other connected devices. With a ransomware attack, the infection can start encrypting the network’s files and folders and any attached drives, making them inaccessible until the victim pays the ransome.
Ways to Protect Your Home or Business Networks from Hacking
There are some basic measures you should take to better secure your network from malicious intrusion. Here’s some of the best ways to protect your network from being hacked:
- Install Security Software: this may seem obvious but many forget to keep their security software up to date or think whatever came with the unit when they bought it is adequate. Make sure you know that your security software (both anti-virus and anti-malware) is current, is actively scanning your networks, and is providing active protection from intrusion. Also make sure to purchase software from a reputable and well known vendor such as Norton or McAfee. Going cheap on security software could do more harm than good.
- Perform Periodic Security Scans & Threat Assessments: if you don’t know where to begin with securing your network, let our professionals do a security scan for your network. We’ll be able to quickly highlight vulnerabilities and offer solutions for getting things secure. With a network, our security scan can tell which individual devices have the greatest vulnerabilities. Things like operating systems that need updating or updating the software and/or firmware are especially easy to overlook in an organization. Hackers are continuously developing more and more sophisticated attacks, even at large businesses, institutions, and even the government. Periodic security scans helps you and your team know what issues to prioritize when securing your network. Unless you have the specific training and expertise to do so, these security assessments should be done by a trained IT professional.
- Get IT Managed Services: the ultimate security tool is network management. With IT Managed Services, you get a dedicated expert in IT security utilizing state-of-the-art monitoring, control, and backup systems to ensure your system and your data stays safe and secure.
Once a hacker has access to your data, they can use this to do any number of malicious things – from identity theft, to robbery, to ransoming your systems. The fact is, our society is not only more connected than ever before but is also being hacked now more than ever. Billions are lost each year in the U.S. towards mending systems after they have been hit by hackers. Taking a few proactive steps at home and in the office can greatly reduce the chances of a hack attack.
Making Sure Your Home & Business Networks Stay Protected
Tech Support Jax has the knowledge and expertise to efficiently solve your network’s security issues before they ever become a problem. With constant monitoring and remote backup capabilities, we can ensure your network and your data stay secure and accessible. Set up a free consultation now to see how we can help protect your home or business.