Defend Your OKC and Tulsa Security Systems from Hackers

Security systems are of course essential to protecting our businesses and homes. These intrusion systems used along with security system monitoring services can swiftly inform owners and the police if there’s any suspicious activity, as well as capture video footage of the break-in, vandalism, or assault event to help identity and more quickly prosecute the perpetrator.

But can Tulsa or OKC security systems be even more secure in themselves? Yes, just a few quick steps can help safeguard your security system from another kind of criminal – hackers.

Home security systems have been susceptible to this attack as “smart homes” become increasingly popular. Today, almost every electronic device or even appliance in the home can be linked to the Internet and controlled remotely by homeowner, from their televisions and lighting to their thermostats. But this kind of remote control can also be hacked by criminals. Last year, a man reportedly even hacked a Houston couple’s baby monitor that had an attached camera. They heard a man’s voice in their baby’s room and realized he had taken over the camera that was being used as a monitor.

So what can Tulsa and OKC security system owners do to make their home security system more secure?

First, ABCNews specialists recommended using only digital and Wi-Fi cameras that are password protected.  But in order for your security system not to be hacked, your wireless network itself needs to have solid password protection. Otherwise, hackers could access your wireless network and thus any wireless devices on that network.

“The only true protection is having a secure Wi-Fi network with the most current WPA2 encryption (or whatever comes next). Every device on your network is vulnerable if someone hacks the Wi-Fi network, your PC, your NAS device, etc.,” Lew Brown, EVP Sales, Marketing and Business Development at MIOS told the Telegraph.

This WPA2 passphrase is more secure than a WEP encryption, Eric Escobar, the Tech Talker, said. He also suggests changing your router’s default password.

“This password is different than your Wi-Fi password and it lets you into the settings of your router. Generally, most routers come with a default username and password such as admin/password, admin/1234 or admin/admin. Changing this password will greatly increase your security and only takes minutes to do,” Escobar said.

Escobar advises having a password that is 12 characters or more and altering your password once a year.

Other specialists also recommend changing the initial login on your wireless IP cameras.

“During setup, Foscam [an IP camera manufacturer] used a default login for users – one featuring the classic “admin” username – but didn’t prompt people to update that to something more secure,” tech writer Adriana Lee said in a readwrite.com article. “Changing the initial login is a top recommendation on just about every expert’s list, probably because so many people fail to do it. Indeed, any Internet-connected device left with default authentication can be especially open to hacking.”

So, while many don’t like having to set and remember passwords, a strong password is vital because it can help to protect you and your security system. For more information on the best security systems for your business or home, contact the Tulsa and OKC security specialists at Mac Systems, Inc.