Protect Your Internet Connection at Home!!!
It was recently discovered that the Sony and Microsoft DDoS attack on their gaming networks this past holiday season was done by taking over consumer routers used in the home. The routers that were turned into zombie-fied botnets (A botnet is a network of hijacked devices that are taken over maliciously and without the owner's knowledge to attack other entities through the internet by various means) and then in turn were used to access every other device that was connected to it. Once access was given through some not so sophisticated malware, those devices were used to send massive network traffic to Sony and Microsoft. The ONLY reason they were able to do this was because a script was running that targeted the default user name and password on their routers that people never bothered to change after hooking up their wi-fi at home.
Yeah, seriously. People that chose not even to password protect their home network were used as pawns in one of the most massive DDoS attacks in history. And here's the rub, most have absolutely no idea this even happened on their own home network and they still don't know. The one they use to do all of their online banking and access other personal data online with. The network they feel safest on because it's their own. Even when I am home on a password protected AES encrypted network (even though our devices can't use true 256 bit encryption for the most part) I use best method security practices. I use a VPN when online that encrypts my traffic and sends it through a proxy network. Depending on where I'm going online that particular day I might even use a copy of TAILS I have running on a USB thumb drive to boot into. I take precautions because I know what's happening out there. I know what's happening to businesses and I see how even our home networks are being breached and taken control of. It's a simple thing. When you buy a new router for your home, change the username and password as the most basic form of protection. When you turn your wi-fi on, password protect that as well. Use uppercase, lowercase, symbols, and numbers in your passwords so basic passphrase crackers can't retrieve your information as easily. Make up words. Use the "@" symbol for the letter "a." Use an "!" for the number 1, be creative. It's certainly not a 100% failsafe but it's far better than having your password be "password."
In today's digital world, it's up to us and us alone to keep ourselves protected as much as possible when online. This is even more true in our own homes. Sadly, as with most things, few people pay attention or even care until they actually have to. The above attack is now being sold online in exchange for bitcoin (from 180 seconds to 8 hour long attacks) and it's still using these hijacked devices the owners don't even know about. Stay safe out there and keep secure in 2015!
#OperationLockdown