There are a number of devices that come with preset passwords. Unfortunately, many people forget to change the default password and wind up exposing themselves to tremendous risk. In this video, we’ll outline three reasons you should reset those default passwords as soon as possible, coming up next…

When you buy a new router to set up your home network, it will come with a preset password, like many “smart” devices you can buy for home use. While it’s certainly possible to leave the default password in place, that’s never a good idea. Here are three reasons why:

Number 1: Easy To Hack – Hackers know that a significant percentage of users won’t change the default password, and they’ve made—and shared—lists of the most common default passwords, which makes it easy for even a novice hacker to break into your system.

Number 2: Lots of Overlap – Some devices come with what appears to be a unique password. Unfortunately, preset passwords tend to be the same, or at least highly similar and easy to guess, so if you have multiple devices, several of them may be using the same password, which makes it easy for a hacker to gain control over multiple devices you own. You’ve probably heard that it’s a bad idea to use the same password on multiple websites because if a hacker gains access to one, he can gain access to every other site you log into using the same password.

Number 3: Bigger Breach – By not changing passwords, a hacker could easily infiltrate your network or devices, which could lead to a larger breach. The original hacked device could be the opening needed to access additional hardware, software or information on the network, exposing you, your employees or your customer’s data.

Hackers are relentless, but they also tend to be drawn to low hanging fruit. If you make it difficult to break into your system by changing default passwords and updating them regularly, most hackers will move on to a softer target. If you have questions on how to better secure your networks and computers from cyber threats, call our team. We are happy to help.

Riverbend Technology
916-372-1766
www.riverbendtech.com