4 things you didn’t know could be hacked
Movies and TV shows get a lot of things wrong about hackers. For starters, typing quickly doesn’t speed up the process of “hacking into the mainframe”...it just means the hacker types fast. Also, having multiple windows open with a bunch a numbers flying around may look like hacking, but it’s just what movie directors think hacking looks like after watching the Matrix trilogy.
Sometimes however, Hollywood does get a few things right, and hackers can access a number of things you might not expect.
Webcams
Nowadays, almost everything with a screen has a built-in camera that can easily function as a hacker’s two-way mirror. Unless you’re a high-profile target you’re probably fine. But if someone really wanted to, they can hack into your device and sneak in malware that enables full access to your camera apps.
That means the next time you take a selfie, hackers will be the first ones to know. Why do you think Mark Zuckerberg tapes over his webcam?
For all you know this guy could be watching you.
But spying on you is just one of the things hackers do with cameras. In 2016, thousands of unsecured webcams and surveillance cameras were hacked and used to shut down major websites like PayPal, Amazon, and Netflix. So if you don’t want your selfie machine to turn against you, watch out for any flashing LEDs next to your camera lens, run antivirus software regularly, and for extra measure, do what Mark Zuckerberg does.
Cars
If you thought cars were death on wheels, wait till hackers get control of your car and drive it like they were playing a video game. Although self-driving cars are miles away from being a norm, recent hacking conventions showed that it’s possible to take control of the wheel using malicious programs.
Even if you’re not into Teslas, there’s plenty to be worried about with a normal car. Most cars these days can connect to smartphones, and if that device is infected with malware it can spread into the car and wreak havoc. For example, hackers can track a car’s position using its built-in GPS system. And worse, they can even cut a car’s engine on the freeway.
So that your car doesn’t get cyberjacked, make sure mobile devices are secured with the latest threat prevention tools and your car’s bluetooth is turned off when not in use. Unfortunately, that’s not enough. Your best hope is for car manufacturers to focus on cyber safety as much as they do with physical safety.
Smart appliances
Almost every device can connect to the internet, which comes with some serious consequences. Smart refrigerators, thermostats, and lightbulbs can all be hacked, allowing cybercriminals to know what you had for breakfast and how warm you like your room.
Yup, hackers can turn your entire home against you.
The information stolen from a fridge may seem useless, but if hackers know intimate details about your life, they’ll easily be able to steal your identity.
Since smart devices are connected to a WiFi router, it’s important to keep them secure with long and unique passwords.
Medical devices
Fitness bands are great for motivating you to exercise more, but if hacked, cybercriminals could have unfettered access to your personal health information. They’ll be able to track your location, what time you do your workouts, and your overall health, which is incredibly valuable for twisted people in the dark web.
Pacemakers and insulin pumps, which are now equipped with computer chips, can also be hacked. You read that right, hackers can kill patients with a click of button. That’s why healthcare organizations in the future must have the strongest possible security systems to defend against hoodie-wearing, computer-savvy shut-ins.
There’s no such thing as privacy in this day and age, but that doesn’t mean you should let hackers get easy access to your personal information. Here at Red Key Solutions, we offer best-in-class security tools to make sure hackers don’t get their way. Call us today if you don’t want to be a cyberattack victim!
