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SALT LAKE CITY — Many tablets, phones and other gadgets were unwrapped this past week. Experts say some of these items might be vulnerable to hackers trying to gain access to home networks.
“The more devices we get, the more we find security holes, and the more there are vulnerabilities, and the more people are trying to access it,” said Kathryn Linford, a network security expert.
Hewlett-Packard's security group said it found 70 percent of devices that connect into the Internet are vulnerable to hackers and identity thieves.
“If we don’t know what’s going on, it’s really easy for them to get into these things,” Linford said.
She said whether it's a new smartphone, tablet or anything that connects to a home network, users must set a strong password.
In November, Russian hackers streamed live video from security systems and baby monitors simply because people did not change the factory-set passwords on their webcams. Linford said anyone who knows the default password can take control of those devices and lock out the owners.
“Not only now do they have access, but they can reset everything because they have administrator access,” she explained.
If you're downloading a calculator, there's no reason it needs to have access to anything on your phone.
–Kathryn Linford, network security expert
Many tablets and smartphones have Bluetooth and near-field communication capability. Linford suggested users shut these off when not using them.
“Not only is it going to drain your battery,” she said, “but it’s also going to cause you to connect to other people. It also possibly (will) allow other people to connect to your device without you knowing it.”
Owners also need to make sure their device isn't set to automatically connect to any open network, Linford said.
“What you’re doing is allowing access to people, to get access to your device,” she said.
When it comes to buying apps for a new device, sticking to reputable places like Google Play, Apple Store or Amazon's AppStore may be best, Linford said. The bad guys have developed their own versions of popular apps, but they are loaded with malware.
Linford also suggested watching for what sort of access an app asks for before installing it. Some apps access information on devices or accounts.
“If you’re downloading a calculator, there’s no reason it needs to have access to anything on your phone. It shouldn’t need any special permission,” she pointed out.
Here's something else: paying for things online. Instead of attaching a credit or debit card to an app store, consider using a $10 or $20 prepaid card instead. If a hacker, or even a family member, figures out the password, the account owner won't be slammed with a big bill.
