- 2 months ago
In this informative video compilation, we explore essential tactics to safeguard your personal data and digital identity.
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00:00You move into a new home and buy a new router to get super high-speed internet.
00:05You change the default password on your Wi-Fi network to your grandmother's maiden name, written in numbers.
00:11Don't even ask.
00:12Voila! You've done everything in your power to protect your data.
00:16After all, it's just your credit card numbers, bank records, personal information, photos, and...
00:22Wait. Looks like there's a lot of stuff at stake.
00:25So, maybe it's worth investing some extra time and money into your home network security after all.
00:31Step 1 will be rather physical.
00:33No, you don't have to run around the house and yell,
00:36You won't get my data!
00:37But you'll need to move the router to the center of your home.
00:41Yep, I know it belongs in the dark corner, but this way, you're actually tempting others to connect to your
00:47network.
00:47If you live in an apartment building, those others will be your neighbors to the left and to the right,
00:53behind shared walls.
00:55If you have a house of your own, a strong signal can go well beyond it through closed windows and,
01:01in theory, right into the car of a bad guy parked outside.
01:05If this doesn't sound convincing enough, I guess you'll agree that a router in a central location will at least
01:11make the connection better around your home.
01:14Are you using a firewall for your connection?
01:17It's that security device that keeps track of your incoming and outgoing network traffic and doesn't let suspicious data break
01:25through.
01:25You might have one of those on your laptop, but the software version only works for the gadget it's installed
01:31on.
01:32If you really want to be sure your home network is safe, you might want to invest in a hardware
01:37firewall.
01:38You put it behind the router, and it works as the first line of defense against all evil.
01:44It will protect your network without using the resources of your gadgets and slowing them down.
01:50Never, and I mean it, never underestimate the power of a strong password.
01:56Even if you have a good one, remember to update it once every six months or so.
02:01And no, your best friend's name, your grandmother's birthday, and even someone's phone number are not a good idea.
02:08If your creativity fails you, use a password generator or, better yet, a password manager.
02:14It's an encrypted digital vault that can help you generate really strong, unique passwords.
02:19And, here comes the best part, you won't need to remember them or physically store them somewhere.
02:26And, if you have a file named passwords.docx somewhere in your system with the keys to literally everything you
02:32have online,
02:33you know by now it shouldn't be that way, right?
02:36What's your Wi-Fi password, and where's the food are the two things most guests want to know.
02:42You can hand them the hamburgers, but don't rush to give them all the Wi-Fi info.
02:47You can create a separate guest network for your visitors.
02:50Your friends won't try to break into your system, of course, but you can't be 100% sure that all
02:56their gadgets are malware-free.
02:58And, if you check their phones before they enter your house, you won't have that many friends left.
03:04And, oh, that guest network will also be perfect for all your gadgets that connect to the net.
03:09Wi-Fi cameras, thermostats, smart speakers, you name it.
03:13These guys are much easier to break into than their smarter peers like laptops or phones, so it's good to
03:20have them separated.
03:22It feels good to use the administrator account to show them gadgets who the boss is, but you don't really
03:28need to do it every time.
03:29When in this mode, you can get access to and alter all important files and configurations on your system.
03:37I know you won't do it on purpose, but malware might sneak in and compromise your system, and you're just
03:43granting it the VIP pass.
03:45To avoid this, create a less privileged account for your everyday routine, like browsing the web, checking your email, and
03:53creating files.
03:54You can call it whatever you like, even Big Boss, to feel better.
03:58And remember, only to use the administrator one for installing important updates and maintenance.
04:04So, you've changed your Wi-Fi password from the default one, but your router has its own login credentials.
04:10To change your router's admin name and password, type its IP address into the URL bar on your laptop, or
04:18use a special app for it.
04:19And because those default IP addresses are easy to find for the bad guys, you can add one extra layer
04:26of protection and change the router IP address, too.
04:29Just replace a couple of numbers in the network settings in your router admin console.
04:34Most routers let you access your Wi-Fi network remotely from any location where you can get an internet connection.
04:41It's cool to control your wireless network like this, but the problem is that others can also access it, especially
04:49if you haven't changed the default router name and password.
04:53So, think twice if you really need to have remote control over your network.
04:58If you can live without it, just turn it off in the settings.
05:02Every now and then, check the list of devices connected to your home network.
05:06If something looks like it doesn't belong there, disconnect it immediately and change the Wi-Fi password.
05:13You'll need to connect all of your gadgets again after this reset, and the bad guys will have to go
05:19for good.
05:20Sometimes, a totally harmless and even helpful devices like your robot vacuum can have a weird mix of numbers and
05:27letters for its name.
05:28So, if it stops cleaning the room after your major digital cleaning, it's not because it went on strike.
05:35Just say you're sorry and welcome it back.
05:39Make sure your router's firmware is up to date.
05:42Manufacturers don't create those updates just to annoy you.
05:45They actually find ways to protect your gadget from prospective threats and patch the weaknesses in the existing system.
05:53Most of those guys don't update themselves automatically, but you can help them out.
05:59You'll find the updates on the manufacturer's website.
06:03There should also be instructions on how to install them.
06:06Check if the router has the latest security protocol.
06:10If you shop for a new one yourself, there shouldn't be a mistake because they only have those now.
06:16But if you get one from your provider, insist that you only want the latest, safest option.
06:22Your security cameras can, ironically enough, also be a threat to your security.
06:28The bad guys can access them locally, within a range of the network the cam is connected to.
06:34More often, they do it remotely though.
06:36Even if the security company that services your cam has no data leakages,
06:41someone can break in using your password if you use the same one for all your accounts.
06:47It's more likely to happen to older gadgets that run on out-of-date software, so you might want to
06:53get a new camera.
06:55It's pretty much impossible to know if your security camera has been messed with unless you're a pro.
07:01One sign to look out for is when the cam starts working slower or worse than normal.
07:06Most of those gadgets have limited memory, and when someone gets connected to it,
07:12its poor central processor has to work extra hard, so it can barely handle the stress.
07:18You know how walls have ears?
07:20Well, your smart devices also have some solid hearing abilities.
07:24The ones equipped with microphones can listen to your conversations even when you aren't actively using the device.
07:31If someone gets access to the device, they'll also get access to the information you share.
07:37So mind what you say when you're next to audio recording toys, home assistants, and other smart devices.
07:43You can also mute microphones when you aren't using them.
07:47Cover the cameras on those gadgets with cameras when you don't need to be seen.
07:51If you know you won't be using the device for a while, disconnect it from the internet,
07:56but remember to update it when you need it again.
08:00Can you tell me what you and this cute koala have in common?
08:03You both like to chillax and constantly snack on something.
08:07And you also have similar fingerprints.
08:09Okay, it's no surprise that monkeys have those because we're related, but koalas?
08:14Turns out, although they were developing somewhere on the other side of evolution from humans,
08:18they did get similar traits to us.
08:21We even kind of use fingerprints for the same purposes.
08:24We need those to grasp, hold, and manipulate things and get a finer perception of the textures and shapes around
08:30us.
08:31So yes, to grab an Xbox gamepad and win that game.
08:34For koalas, who are super picky eaters,
08:37the gamepad is replaced with eucalyptus leaves they run through to find the finest of them.
08:42You got your fingertips when you were still growing in the womb.
08:45They're made up of ridges.
08:47Each ridge has pores that are connected to sweat glands under your skin.
08:51That's why you leave your fingerprints when you touch glasses, tables, and all other kinds of surfaces.
08:56It's all about the sweat.
08:58All the ridges form patterns that look like spirals, arches, and loops.
09:02Those patterns are even more unique than your DNA.
09:06There's a 1 in 64 billion chance that your fingerprint will be exactly like someone else's.
09:11Even identical twins don't have the same pattern.
09:14So, no long-lost fingerprint twin for you, sorry.
09:17That unique pattern stays with you for your entire life.
09:21If you happen to damage your fingerprints somehow, or develop some skin condition that can change them,
09:26they will still grow back within a month.
09:28As you grow older, the skin on your fingertips loses some of its elasticity,
09:33and the ridges get thicker.
09:35The fingerprints don't change even then, but it becomes harder to scan them or take prints from them.
09:41Doing certain jobs can affect the pattern of your fingerprints.
09:45If you're a construction worker, especially a bricklayer, or have to wash dishes by hand,
09:50you might lose some details in your beautiful natural pattern.
09:54Folks who work with certain chemicals also face the same risk.
09:57But no worries. Once you stop doing those activities, you'll get your fingertips back.
10:02So they're unique, and never change.
10:05Sounds like they were made to prove your identity, right?
10:08It looks like the ancient Babylonians were the first ones to appreciate those properties of fingerprints.
10:13They pressed them into clay to record business transactions.
10:17Starting from the 19th century, fingerprints have been used to identify criminals.
10:22In 1902, fingerprints were used as evidence at the court in England for the first time.
10:28A year later, the idea moved on to New York.
10:32Now, different types of fingerprint scanners come with many gadgets to make sure they're dealing with the right person.
10:38You can unlock your phone, tablet, laptop, USB drive, smart lock, and whatnot with just one touch.
10:45This tech itself is extremely accurate, but it depends on many factors.
10:49If the scanning goes wrong because the fingers are wet, greasy, too dry, or injured, you can't expect to get
10:56the correct result.
10:57The quality of the scanner also plays its role.
11:00It's like with a camera on your phone.
11:02You need to have a really good sensor and hardware to get high-quality shots.
11:06At the user level, it seems like fingerprint ID tech is impeccable.
11:10If you save one finger in your phone system, you won't be able to unlock it with another.
11:15At a more professional level, errors do happen.
11:17Sometimes the system can't identify a registered finger or identifies a finger that's not in the records by mistake.
11:24It's rather tricky to fool one of those smart scanners and feed it a fake fingerprint, but it's doable.
11:31Shortly after iPhone Touch ID was released, researchers took photos of fingerprints on a glass surface and made molds to
11:37fool the scanner.
11:38It worked back then, but the progress doesn't stand still.
11:42Smartphones now have ultrasound fingerprint scanners, and those are more secure.
11:46So in theory, if you decided to recreate your fingerprints for some reason, one possible way would be to make
11:52a mold.
11:53You can use modeling clay or the same gelatin that gummy bears are made of.
11:57It has similar conductivity as your finger.
12:00Another simple solution is to put your fingertip on a piece of sticky tape and use the image you get
12:05to deceive a scanner.
12:06That, or take a photo of a fingerprint on a glass surface, then take it to a 3D printer, calibrate
12:12it, and print it.
12:13There is also a more elaborate method the bad guys could theoretically use to steal someone's identity or unlock a
12:19gadget.
12:20If you ever left your fingerprint somewhere, you can't be 100% sure they're safe in a database.
12:25You can even find some scanned fingerprints available online.
12:29The next step would be to turn the image into a 3D model and print it on a 3D printer.
12:35Researchers tried doing it, but the polymer those printers used was too hard, so scanners didn't recognize it as a
12:41human finger.
12:42They found another solution and printed a cast to make a prosthetic finger from the right material.
12:48I guess we can all be happy, it sounds like a lot of work.
12:51So not so many bad guys would go that far.
12:54Sometimes, even a photo is enough to recreate someone's fingerprint pattern.
12:58Japan's National Institute of Informatics ran a test and found that flashing a peace sign in photos can lead to
13:05your personal data leakage.
13:06If your fingerprints are in focus and the lighting is good, the pattern can be read and copied, even if
13:12the photographer is 9 feet away from you.
13:14So if someone does get access to your fingerprints, how could they use them against you?
13:19Well, the problem here is that you can change a password or even buy a new gadget, but a fingerprint
13:25is something that stays with you forever and can't be changed.
13:28So the bad guys get permanent access to your identity this way.
13:32They could use it to unlock your gadgets to do online banking and get access to your digital wallet, email,
13:38medical identity, and other sensitive data.
13:41They could shop online on your behalf or access the building where you work.
13:46The good news is that it's really tricky to put that mean puzzle together.
13:50Criminals would most likely need more than just a photo or a mold of your fingerprints to use it against
13:55you.
13:56If you still think your fingerprint is worth showing to everyone, you can order custom-made jewelry with it.
14:01Those designs are becoming more and more popular.
14:05Makes sense.
14:05You can be sure your pendant will be one of a kind, or at least one in 64 billion.
14:10In case you're having doubts about the safety of fingerprint ID, you might like an alternative to it, the microbiome.
14:17It's the genetic material of all the bacteria and other microorganisms living inside you.
14:22It looks like the microbiome stays the same for a long period of time, and you can identify people by
14:28it among populations of hundreds.
14:30Well, stealing that ID would sure not be easy.
14:33Your tongue also has its unique pattern of tiny bumps and ridges.
14:37That pattern hardly changes over time because the tongue sits safely inside your mouth.
14:42Your lips, too, have a unique print of elevations and depressions.
14:45It would be really romantic to unlock a phone with a kiss, right?
14:49Or identify criminals this way.
14:52The only problem is that they rarely smooch the crime scenes.
14:55Then, there are also your toe prints.
14:58Those also form their unique pattern when you're still in the fetus position.
15:02There was even one case when a burglar got identified by a marquee left on the floor.
15:07He broke into a bakery in Scotland, so the flour was all over the place.
15:11The jury convicted the suspect within a short 15 minutes.
15:15You probably never thought it was that special, but your ear could also compete in the race for the most
15:20unique body part.
15:21Do you feel all those curves and the ridges at the rim of your ear?
15:25No one else in the world has an exactly identical set.
15:29Unlocking your phone with an ear scan seems logical.
15:32Let's see if it happens.
15:33Let's see if it happens.