Your network is a target for hackers

July 9, 2024

By Kim Komando

“That would never happen to me.” That’s probably what these people thought.

• There’s the couple who woke up to a stranger talking dirty to their infant son in the middle of the night through his baby cam and monitor.
• Then, there’s the family targeted by a hacker who cranked up their smart thermostat to unbearably high temperatures.

And don’t forget the countless other stories of home security cameras being hacked.

Get this: The average home and all its internet-connected devices experience about 10 attacks every 24 hours. Everything from your smart light bulbs to your smart thermostat is a way in. The answer isn’t to throw your hands up or ditch your smart gear. You just need to know how to protect your home the right way.

‘Wouldn’t I know if I got hacked?’

Some of these attacks are loud and in your face, like the email trying to extort you or a computer flashing with pop-ups. But some happen quietly in the background, like these:

• Botnet recruitment: Getting into your network means hackers may be able to add you to an army of infected devices. Their goal? To use all that power to carry out bigger attacks and hacks.
• Data theft: Most smart devices collect at least some personal details, like your location, behaviors, health data — whatever. This kind of info is worth money on the dark web.
• Spying: Think listening in, watching, recording or otherwise stealing info, often to bolster a future attack.
• Cryptojacking: Thieves want to steal your computer’s processing power and internet connection to mine cryptocurrency and reap the profits.

Your computer might be protected

Windows PCs and Macs both have a built-in firewall that does the bare minimum. 

• On Windows: Open Control Panel, then type firewall into the search box. Click Windows Defender Firewall. In the left pane, tap Turn Windows Defender Firewall on or off to enable it.
• On Mac: Click the Apple menu > System Settings > Firewall, then turn it on.

Now, it’s important to know your computer’s software firewall means nothing if your security cams, smart bulbs and network are under attack. It’s common knowledge that most internet-connected devices have no security protocols.

That’s where a physical firewall comes in. It’s a safeguard between your devices and the internet. More specifically, a firewall provides:

• Traffic monitoring: A firewall examines all incoming and outgoing traffic to your home network and limits activity based on rules you’ve set up.
• Access control: Choose what devices access your network, plus when and how. You approve any new device (like the cable guy) and choose limits for certain groups or devices (like no internet on the iPad after 8 p.m.).
• Intrusion detection: Spot threats to your entire network, including devices you typically can’t monitor, like cheaper smart home gear without much built-in security.
• Content filtering: Choose what you see and don’t see at the device level. This is perfect for limiting a certain group (like kids) from accessing specific content.

‘Kim, do I need a firewall?’

At the Komando HQ, we have corporate firewalls protecting our website, servers, devices, remote computers and more. I have the same at my house, which isn’t your typical home; it has 35 miles of Cat6 cables and 915 smart devices. Yes, you read that right. About 150 of those are UV and blackout shades, essential in Phoenix.

When I asked our seasoned IT genius, John, about firewalls for home use because those baked into Windows and Macs are lame, he said Firewalla was the best he’s ever used. Every time we consider a new sponsor, we go through testing processes at HQ, and that all starts with John.

Firewalla is easy to set up and easy to use. Everything is managed through an app that’s simple to navigate and understand, with no extra monthly fees. Love that, and you will, too.

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