{"id":122056,"date":"2021-06-17T06:30:41","date_gmt":"2021-06-17T13:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"\/blogs\/?p=122056"},"modified":"2025-05-07T00:50:30","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T07:50:30","slug":"fathers-day-gift-ideas-protecting-the-tech-you-give-to-dad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/family-safety\/fathers-day-gift-ideas-protecting-the-tech-you-give-to-dad\/","title":{"rendered":"Father\u2019s Day Gift Ideas: Protecting the Tech You Give to Dad"},"content":{"rendered":"

A new piece of tech often tops the list of Father\u2019s Day gifts<\/span>. And while\u00a0<\/span>things such as<\/span>\u00a0wearable fitness device<\/span>s<\/span>, smart speakers, smart outlets, or\u00a0<\/span>any number of other connected gadgets and do-dads<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>are<\/span>\u00a0popular picks<\/span>, one thing often gets overlooked\u2014protecting<\/span>\u00a0those devices<\/span>\u00a0from hacks and attacks<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We live in a day and age when\u00a0<\/span>even\u00a0<\/span>connected\u00a0<\/span>light<\/span>b<\/span>ulbs can be hacked<\/span><\/a>.<\/span>\u00a0The reality is that gift-worthy tech<\/span>\u00a0like home cameras, s<\/span>peakers<\/span>, and other Internet of Things (IoT) devices\u00a0<\/span>can\u00a0<\/span>fall prey to\u00a0<\/span>bad actors<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>The reason why is relatively straightforward. Each connected thing on your home network presents a possible\u00a0<\/span>entry point<\/span>\u00a0for an attack<\/span>er<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

By compromising\u00a0<\/span>even<\/span>\u00a0the most innocuous of devices, like\u00a0<\/span>the humble<\/span>\u00a0lightbulb, an attacker can inject malware into your network that can then compromise high-value items like your phones and computers\u2014along with the data on them.<\/span>\u00a0So<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0if you\u2019re wondering why on Earth anyone would want to hack a lightbulb, that\u2019s one reason why.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Protecting your privacy, identity, data<\/span><\/b>, and\u00a0<\/span><\/b>smart\u00a0<\/span><\/b>devices<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Y<\/span>our network is only as safe as the least secure device that\u2019s on it. And the sad fact is that many consumer IoT devices simply aren\u2019t that secure. Their hardware can be limited, leaving little room for security measures onboard, and they\u00a0<\/span>can use transmission protocols that are less than robust. Further, they can use default usernames and passwords that people neglect to update, making them easy to access as doing a search online for those\u00a0<\/span>credentials<\/span>. Secure data storage can be an issue as well<\/span>, whether that\u2019s a video from a security camera or health data from a fitness device that\u2019s stored in the cloud.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The list of possible IoT device vulnerabilities goes on<\/span><\/a>. Certainly,<\/span>\u00a0some manufacturers are more stringent about security than\u00a0<\/span>others<\/span>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>H<\/span>owever,<\/span>\u00a0adding any IoT device to your network also adds risk. And with more and more of these devices entering our homes, dedicated hackers<\/span>\u00a0have more targets available to them than ever before.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In all<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>estimates project that the world will have nearly 40 billion IoT devices in the next\u00a0<\/span>four<\/span>\u00a0years<\/span><\/a>\u00a0a<\/span>cross\u00a0<\/span>homes and businesses alike<\/span>. And\u00a0<\/span>like our computers, laptops, smartphones, and tablets,\u00a0<\/span>all of them will need protection.\u00a0<\/span>Including\u00a0<\/span>the connected devices that<\/span>\u00a0you give dad.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Seven<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Ways to Protect<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Your IoT Devices<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

As you\u2019re shopping for the best tech gift for dad, making sure his IoT devices are secure as possible may be the best gift of all.\u00a0<\/span>Right off the bat, the challenge with our IoT devices is that you don\u2019t protect them the same way you can protect our computers, phones, and tablets<\/span>, N<\/span>amely, there\u00a0<\/span>isn\u2019t<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>always a\u00a0<\/span>way to install security software on them.\u00a0<\/span>What to do?<\/span>\u00a0In fact,<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>we can show you<\/span>\u00a0several ways\u00a0<\/span>to<\/span>\u00a0tighten up the security of your\u00a0<\/span>new and existing IoT devices. What\u2019s more<\/span>,<\/span>\u00a0following these steps can also improve the overall security of your network too.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

1<\/span><\/b>.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Do your IoT homework<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Just because that new smart device\u00a0<\/span>that you want to give to dad<\/span>\u00a0can connect to the internet doesn\u2019t mean that it\u2019s secure. Before you purchase, read up on reviews and comments from other customers. Look for news articles about the device manufacturer too. The fact of the matter is that some IoT device manufacturers are much better at baking security protocols into their devices than others, so\u00a0<\/span>check out<\/span>\u00a0their track record to see if you can uncover any issues with their products or security practices. Information such as this can help you make an even more informed choice.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

2<\/span><\/b>.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0Don\u2019t use the default\u2014Set a strong, unique password<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

As mentioned above, o<\/span>ne issue with many IoT devices is that they often come with a default username and password. This could mean that your device, and thousands of others just like it, all share the same credentials, which makes it painfully easy for a hacker to gain access to them as those default usernames and passwords are often published online.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When you purchase an IoT device, set a fresh password using\u00a0<\/span>a strong method of password creation<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0 And keep those passwords safe. Instead of keeping them on a notebook or on sticky notes,\u00a0<\/span>consider using a password manager<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span>It acts as a database for all your passwords<\/span>\u00a0and stores new codes as you create them. As always, don\u2019t store them in an unprotected file on your computer, which can be subject to a hack or data loss.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

3<\/span><\/b>.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/b>Use two-factor authentication<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h4>\n

Our banks,\u00a0<\/span>and even some of the online gaming platforms<\/span>\u00a0we use, use\u00a0<\/span>two-factor authentication<\/span><\/a>\u00a0to make sure that we\u2019re logging in we really are who we say we are.\u00a0<\/span>The two factors break down like this:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n