Everybody loves technology, right? There are smart homes that allow homeowners to turn off and on appliances without even being home. But did you know that the computer chip that powers all that technology to power the devices in your home can put you at greater risk of having your personal information stolen? What many owners don’t know is that the firmware is contained on a system chip that can be used by other embedded devices. However, did you know that this firmware also opens the door to poor encryption practices and allows hackers to access software on devices?
It may not matter that some of this software is the only program available for a hacker to gain access to a webcam, microphone, printer, router, or fax machine. How safe is a newly purchased webcam? In one study, a technology-focused graduate school developed a web crawler to retrieve more than 30,000 images from manufacturers’ websites after the webcams were put up for sale.
What were the main issues that made webcams a security hazard?
Is your website really safe? One of the reasons hackers were able to successfully access the firmware is that the encryption mechanisms did not work properly. The websites were not encrypted, as specified. Of the more than 123 products tested, 38 were found to have security risks and the vulnerabilities needed to be addressed. What leads to products having security flaws and allowing hackers to enter critical systems?
Being first and cheap is not a good combination. In an attempt to be the first new product on a shelf, manufacturers will quickly launch consumer products to market. But did you know that cheap and first doesn’t necessarily mean you have a quality product that will keep your confidential information safe from hackers?
Does the company offer updated firmware with the latest security practices? Better to get updates and patches on a regular and frequent basis. By installing itself automatically, a patch can protect a computer from viruses and hackers.
Has the company offering the firmware tested their product to make sure it is not faulty and then distributed in firmware that is sold in different products on the internet?
Different firmware images use digital certificates to enable encryption. But that does not mean that these firmware certificates are always safe. Some hackers have gained access using self-signed certificates that used a private RSA encryption code. Did you know that of the 35,000 devices found online, they used less secure certificates?
At Swansea Data Recovery, we also offer our 15 years of experience in many other data recovery services to keep your documents stored in Raid arrays and your sensitive data, and more, safe. We can help you recover lost data from internal and external hard drives.