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My neighbor asked me why his smart light kept turning on at 3 AM
He said it started after he downloaded a free app to control it, and I realized he never changed the default password on the router. We sat down and I showed him how to set a strong one and turn off remote admin access. It's crazy how one simple step can open up your whole home network. Has anyone else had to walk a friend through securing their smart home stuff?
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rowanw111mo ago
Yeah, and that default password thing is the same for so many of those smart plugs and cameras too. People just don't know to look for it.
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troy7681mo ago
Seriously, it's wild how many devices come with 'admin' and 'password'. I mean, I had a cheap camera once that was literally just the brand name as the password. @rowanw11 is right, you gotta dig into the manual or some random support page to even find that info. I just make it a rule now to change it the second I plug anything new in. Takes two minutes and saves you from ending up on some weird website where your living room is live streaming.
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People get way too paranoid about this stuff. @rowanw11, those default passwords are fine for most folks who just want their lights to work. Changing all that is just making things harder for no real reason.
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