BY JEFF KRAEMER,
SELLSTATE ACHIEVERS REALTY NETWORK
I
Home security in today’s internet-driven world is
not just about keys or locks. Today’s technological
homes involve so much more - from apps that
communicate with our refrigerator, security
cameras, to baby monitors and everything in
between. Smartphones and the internet have changed the
way security for homes should be looked at and protected.
The first and probably the most important thing that should
be done is to change the password from the factory setting.
Every item that is password protected that comes from the
manufacturer is set with a password such as 1234, 0000, or
1111. A word to the wise: every item that connects to the
internet or Wi-Fi has a password and should be changed.
Something to consider: “Hackers are costing consumers
and companies between $375 and $575 billion, annually.”
(Risen, 2014). This does not consider events that are not
reported, as well as the number of times a video feed is
hacked into.
a password for all your sites you visit, meaning you only
need to create and use one password.
The longer the password, the harder it is to crack.
Consider a 12-character password or longer. Avoid names,
places, and dictionary words. Mix it up. Use variations on
capitalization, spelling, numbers, and punctuation. Some
examples: “WOO!TPwontSB” means “Woohoo! The
Packers won the Super Bowl!” or “1tubuupshhh…imj” =
“I tuck button-up shirts into my jeans. Another suggestion
from experts is to use twelve (12) random words. You can
start with a phrase such as “Even in winter, the dogs party
with brooms and neighbor Kit Kats.” When you place
this password into a password checker, it will take 238
quadragintillion (that’s 123 zeros!) years of brute force to
attack or crack this password.
We’re not just talking about passwords for email, bank
accounts, or debit/credit cards, but also for the home
Wi-Fi system, X-box or play station, baby monitors, and yes
- even cell phones, laptops, home computers, and even if
the front door has a keypad, that also should be changed
on a regular basis. Industry experts suggest picking a day
such as your birthday and use that to set a schedule for
changing passwords on a routine basis.
A password should be complex, yet simple enough
to remember. Another great idea is to create a 2-step
authentication process, in which you enter your password
and then you are sent a code via a text message or email
that must be entered to gain access to the site. While there
is temptation to write down our passwords, due to so many
different sites or apps that we use, they should never be
written down. There are programs or apps available that
create a “Master” password in which the program creates
As Realtors®, we are to help our clients buy homes at
the lowest price and sell at the highest price, all while
educating them in the process. We also inform them on
neighborhood areas, such as grocery stores, schools,
and places of activities. Some agents even provide crime
statics or locations of police stations and fire stations. Why
not educate them on how to secure their information, too?
RPCRA.ORG | JUL/AUG 2017
17