Wireless alarm systems are easier to install than their wired counterparts. Yet the wireless nature of these alarms also makes them vulnerable to hackers.
Thus, if you don’t know how to protect your wireless alarms from hackers, you could be compromising your security.
Fortunately, there are ways to reduce the odds of your wireless alarms being hacked.
Keep reading and you’ll learn 4 essential tips that’ll help keep your wireless alarm systems safe from hackers. By putting these tips into action, you’ll be a lot closer to making your wireless alarms as secure as wired alarms.
Let’s begin!
1. Have a Secure Wifi Password
Odds are your wireless alarms are connected to your WiFi network. If your WiFi network isn’t secure, hackers can have a way to access your alarm systems. Following this, you should think about how you can improve the security of your WiFi network.
Consider using a WPA2 password format for your router. You can select this option when adjusting the settings for your router.
This is one the most secure password formats you can use for your router. You also want to change the password as soon as you get the router. Depending on the router in question, using the default password can make your router easier to hack.
When creating a new password, use a mix of numbers, letters, and symbols. You may even want to invent your own words to make the password more secure.
2. Make Sure Your Router Is Secure
You need to change the login credentials for your router on the ‘backend.’ This is the information provided to change the settings for the router.
If hackers can access the router backend, they can change the WiFi password, making your secure WiFi password useless.
When hackers have backend access, they can also see data on the other devices connected to your network. Hackers can then exploit more than just the alarm systems.
Routers tend to ship with very basic backend login credentials like ‘admin’ for username and ‘password’ for the login. You need to change these credentials as soon as you get the router. If you get stuck on this, you can watch a YouTube video to help you.
You should also keep the firmware for your router updated.
Old firmware versions might have certain ‘vulnerabilities’ that make it easier to hack your router. Upon discovering the vulnerabilities, router companies often release updates to address the problem. If you don’t keep the firmware updated, you’re leaving yourself open to attacks.
You can tell if there is new firmware available by checking the section related your router, on the manufacturer’s website.
If your router is old and it is no longer supported by the manufacturer, invest in a new router. A new router can be expensive, but it can dramatically improve the security of your wireless network.
3. Invest in an Anti Jammer
Wireless security systems communicate using certain ‘radio frequencies.’
If there’s a problem with one part of the system, it might send a signal to the main part of the system that something is wrong.
But if a criminal can jam the frequency, this signal does not get through the main part of the network. This allows hackers to compromise your system without raising any suspicions.
For the above to happen, there will need to be a drop in signal. Thus, you can invest in something called an ‘anti-jammer.’ This’ll let you know if there’s been a drop in the signal.
If you detect a drop in signal, a malicious actor might want to create a situation where your system is offline. It could mean someone is trying to jam your cameras so they can break in undetected. If you’re aware of this ahead of time, you can take action to prevent such an event from happening.
4. Stick to Best Practices
If you have a wireless alarm system, there are a few best practices you pay attention to.
One is to make sure you invest in a system that uses encrypted signals. This makes it harder for people to intercept data packets that contain sensitive data.
Not all alarm systems use encrypted communications. So make sure you check for this feature before handing over your money. If you’d like to learn more about the different kinds of encrypted alarm systems on offer, you can visit this site.
You should also install your wireless system in a place that is ‘hard to reach.’
If someone can gain physical access to your alarm system, they can make manual adjustments to your system. These adjustments may render every other security step useless. This is because physical access provides hackers with a lot of advantages.
If certain parts of the alarm system need to be outdoors, make sure they’re ‘high up.’ You might even want to place an enclosure around the alarm so that it’s even harder to gain access to.
If you can, have your alarm installed by professionals.
They’ll know how to install the system so that it can’t be physically tampered with. They’ll also be aware of other best practices, outside of what has been mentioned here, which can help keep your systems secure. To verify the credibility of a professional, ask them about past home security projects they’ve worked on.
Is Your Wireless Alarm System Secure?
A wireless alarm system can be a great way to protect your home. Especially as they’re easier to install than a traditional wired system. But this extra convenience can often mean sacrificing some level of security.
In this post, we’ve reviewed how you can keep your wireless alarms safe from hackers. You’ll want to make sure your WiFi network is secure. You’ll also want to ensure your router is kept up to date. It’s also beneficial to use systems that use encryption.
Ideally, it helps to work with experienced professionals, if you’re thinking about installing a wireless alarm. They’ll have a great deal of industry knowledge that can help protect you from hackers that might be interested in hacking your alarms.
Need some help choosing the best surveillance systems? Check out this post for some tips.