Another post about passwords? Yep. Passwords are everywhere. Our internet of things aren’t exempt. Wikipedia defines the Internet of Things as a “…network of physical objects—”things” or objects—that are embedded with sensors, software, and other technologies for the purpose of connecting and exchanging data with other devices and systems over the Internet.”
Popular devices that are part of this network include smart home devices such as security systems, device-controlled lighting, AC and heating systems. These things make our lives so much easier and grant us peace of mind. Out of town? Well just pop into the security camera to make sure everything is okay. On your way home from work? Well just log in and adjust the thermostat so your home is nice and comfy before you get there.
Sounds good right? Protect these great features by changing the default password on each device. All it takes is an internet search of the device brand and the whole world has the username and password set by the manufacturer. I’m sure you’ve heard the horror stories of people hacking into home security cameras and terrorizing its owner. It’s scary but we can each do our part by updating the default password.