Hackable Home Devices: InCare’s Jon Parks Provides FOX13 Tips to Keep Your Family Safe from Cybercriminals

“Any security system that is accessible from the Internet is going to be pretty vulnerable. If you set it up incorrectly.”

So said Thrive’s Jon Parks to FOX13 in a recent cybersecurity-themed report.

FOX13 Investigator Reporter Greg Coy was investigating how to prevent cybercriminals from hacking into your Ring Camera Security system.

App-controlled devices have been all the rage in recent years, and many homeowners have turned to Ring systems to provide peace of mind when it comes to home security.

That peace of mind was rattled when word got out that a hacker gained control of a Mississippi family’s system last December.

FOX13 reached out to Ring for a comment. Their response suggested they believed the account was compromised due to harvested data/credentials and not a device breach.

“Chances are the family had some account information stolen in one of the numerous data breaches,” said Parks. “Target, Home Depot, Equifax… these companies have all had breaches, which means if you had sensitive information with any of those, your info may be up for grabs in the so-called Dark Web, or areas of the internet where hackers exchange data and plan their attacks.”

Parks offered FOX13 easy-to-follow yet powerful ways to keep your accounts and your family safe.

• Utilize two-factor authentication where possible.
  This provides additional layers of authentication (such as a code sent to an associated mobile phone) that must be entered before accessing an account.
• Set up a firewall.
  Firewalls can add strong protection against attackers. Ask your internet provider if they provide a firewall.
• Beware of phishing emails.
  These are deceptive emails that are designed to get you to respond with sensitive information or account credentials. When in doubt, don’t click.