Category: Internet Security

Technological advancement has revolutionized home safety for the better. Every home security device and tool today is smart, from the locks, alarms, lighting systems, and doorbells, to the surveillance cameras. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is taking the effectiveness of these home security devices a notch higher by enabling them to learn and react to potential security breaches.

AI is now deeply entrenched in the realm of security, which has birthed a new era of home security like no other.

AI Home Security Capabilities: Continuous Learning and Monitoring

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the ability of machines (computers) to learn, reason, and perform tasks that were traditionally reserved for human intelligence. There’s a branch of AI known as Machine Learning. Through Machine Learning, AI can learn from past experiences, develop knowledge, keep a memory, and then use past memories and experiences to detect and report potential security threats. Modern surveillance systems operate with AI for continuous learning and security monitoring.

Such a surveillance system will, among other things:

1. Offer a 24/7 monitoring functionality. The system shares real-time data and alerts you in case of an abnormal security situation.
2. Differentiate between human beings, objects such as furniture, shadows, and animals in the home. This filters out false alarms.
3. Detect suspected home breakers and trespassers and ask them to leave before alerting you or your security personnel. That lowers the frequency of false positives.
4. Use the knowledge it gathers over time to iteratively improve its capabilities. It understands your home’s unique needs, so you don’t need to hire more security staff to keep an eye on multiple-camera feeds.
5. Make it easier for your security personnel to extract data and pick out specific events in a pile of video recordings. Searching for an event in long video footage using manual processes can be extremely tedious and time-consuming.

What AI Devices Do You Need To Deploy IN Home Security?

1. AI-powered custom home security cameras

AI-powered custom home security cameras come with face recognition features, which means they can recognize house occupants and frequent guests. You can even set it to notify you with a special voice assistant or an alert to a mobile app whenever a regular guest arrives at your door, even before they knock. It’s in the same way that the cameras recognize frequent guests that it detects and notifies you/police of unknown or suspicious people.

AI-powered security cameras will help you find lost objects through AI’s ability to recognize and label objects in the house. The cameras can also read license plates and create a database of the cars allowed to park in your parking lot. Any car that’s not on the database is flagged off immediately.

2. AI-powered video monitoring systems

AI-based video monitoring systems eliminate the need for security personnel to constantly stare at screens. The system will analyze video footage from multiple cameras and detect accidents (such as slip-and-fall or fire), emotional or violent incidences, or any other abnormal behavior/incident in the home. They come with emotions and behavior recognition features, enabling them to detect an intruder’s emotional state and alert house owners of imminent danger.

The system can also detect visual patterns of domestic violence- e.g. clenched fists, flying objects, crying, unexpected fall to the floor, rapid arms movement, or loud conversations with abnormal intonations. Abnormal behavior recognition is also perfect for detecting and alerting first responders of heart attacks, panic attacks, or epileptic attack incidents in the home.

3. Ambient sensors

You don’t need to build walk-through stations at the gate to keep the home safe from chemical warfare. Ambient sensing detects the presence of hazardous materials in the home. The technology will alert you of explosives, toxic industrial chemicals, hydrocarbons (e.g., diesel, gasoline, and toluene), or any other chemical warfare agents. The sensors provide continuous sensing over wide areas. You can place them anywhere on the property, including the main security breach culprits- the backyard and bathrooms. That’s unlike walk-through stations that are mostly limited to the gate and main entryways.

4. Geofencing

Geofencing technology uses artificial intelligence to define a region that’s out of bounds to unknown people. It then creates a virtual fence around that region for added protection. It can tell when a house occupant enters or exits the perimeter, so it turns the lights or thermostat on/off. If a thief steals a smart device within the perimeter, the system can alert security authorities of what has been stolen.

Types of AI: Strong, Weak, and Super AI

 Artificial Intelligence has three stages.

• Weak AI (Narrow AI): These AI tools perform very specialized, basic human intelligence tasks. All the AI tools known to man today belong in this category. Some of the common examples of weak AI are email spam filters, Google maps, Siri and other smart assistants, chatbots, phone autocorrects, and self-driving cars. Using the right conversational AI tool can help automate these tasks, making them more efficient and accurate. When it comes to out home safety and comfort these tools can be of great help. They can provide us with timely reminders, weather alerts and much more.

• Strong AI or artificial general intelligence (AGI): These AI tools should mimic general human intelligence. They should learn new skills, be knowledgeable, and plan ahead just like humans do. Strong AI doesn’t exist as of now- it’s hypothetical.

• Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI): These AI tools will surpass human intelligence. ASI is also hypothetical as of today. Sci-fi movies attempt to predict what ASI will be like once it’s realized and actualized, and their predictions are quite scary.

Types of AI: Functionality

Based on their functionalities, AI tools fall into these 4 categories:

• Reactive Machine AI: These tools perform pre-defined tasks. An example of reactive machine AI is the chess program known as Garry Kasparov.

• Limited Memory AI: This AI can store past experiences, study past data from its memory, and evaluate future actions. Examples of limited memory AI are chatbots and self-driving cars.

• Theory of Mind AI: This AI is hypothetical. Once actualized, it’s expected to mimic the emotional intelligence of human beings and to comprehend human beliefs and thoughts.

• Self-Aware AI: These AI tools are also hypothetical. Tech futurists predict that self-aware AI will have its own consciousness and self-awareness. The AI will be super intelligent.

Conclusion

Technology in the home will continue to expand home security will keep getting tighter and more efficient as more advanced types of AI come into being. The future of AI is, however, hypothetical and, to some extent, far-fetched. There is a long way to get to strong AI and super-intelligent AI. If the future of AI scares you, now is a little too soon to start worrying. Embrace the present with a little more optimism and enjoy the exciting possibilities that weak AI has brought about.

Internet security is all about the safe use of the internet and any online activity. Going online gives you access to a wide array of information and services. Unfortunately, it also opens you up to vulnerabilities that can be used to attack your data. Internet security prioritizes addressing these vulnerabilities before they become an issue.

Global cyberattacks increased by 42% in the first quarter of  2022, compared to the previous year. These attacks have affected nearly every industry, including education, healthcare and manufacturing. The basis of these attacks is various vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure. There is a clear need to implement better internet security protocols against such attacks.

The Risks to Internet Security

Understanding the security protocols you need to implement starts with knowing what risks you are facing. This is the first step to making the internet safer.  Some of the biggest threats observed this year include:

IoT vulnerabilities

The interconnected nature of devices over the Internet opens them up to greater risk. The Internet of Things (IoT) can be used as a gateway to gain access to a network of devices. Malicious agents can use this access to retrieve sensitive information from the cloud. With more businesses turning towards IoT technologies, it is likely to become an increasingly serious cybersecurity risk.

Cloud security breaches

By 2025, over 100 zettabytes of data will have moved to cloud storage. The increasing adoption of cloud computing has focused more attacks in this direction. Cyberattacks for cloud storage often focus on account takeovers or a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, which locks users out of their data.

A more sophisticated version of this attack uses domain name system (DNS) amplification to attack. DNS vulnerabilities are exploited by turning small queries into much larger traffic, which overwhelms servers and causes them to crash.

Ransomware attacks

Ransomware attacks are becoming increasingly common in recent years. The first half of 2022 experienced over 236 million ransomware attacks, a substantial increase from the previous year. Losing data access and the financial burden of such attacks put a great strain on business operations. If they last long enough, they can put the entire business in jeopardy.

Maintaining Internet Security

Given the potential for attacks, your priority should be to try and secure your system and connections the best way you can. Some of the necessary steps to maintain and manage online risk include;

DNS solutions

IoT device vulnerabilities can be countered with DNS security. IoT devices need to be secured and managed to reduce the risk they pose to the rest of the IT infrastructure and the organization itself. DNS solutions offer secure communication, which limits the spread of risk via connected devices.

An effective application of DNS solutions is to limit access for IoT devices. Using query filtering, a “whitelist” of allowed domains can be created that allows access by these devices. Only a DNS request for an explicitly allowed domain would then be entertained.

Antivirus protection

Antivirus software goes a long way in offering internet security. When set to run automatic scans, any files you access online undergo scrutiny before they are accepted on your device. Antivirus is the most basic defense against malware, virus and other malicious agents.

Such software can also run in the background to offer protection in real time. The point to remember is that a comprehensive security protocol needs to go along with any security software you use. For example, regularly updating your software ensures it is functioning well and can defend against new forms of attacks and viruses.

VPN technology

A virtual private network (VPN) connection ensures the security of the connection between your device and the internet. It serves a two-fold purpose. First, as data passes through an encrypted tunnel of sorts, it disguises your IP address. Therefore, your location cannot be divulged based on the address in the event of an attack.

Secondly, it offers protection against external attacks. It is able to establish secure connections as you interact with services online. With a VPN, you can keep information hidden, making it harder for malicious agents to launch an attack against you. Rather than protecting your system from an active threat, it simply makes you a difficult target.

Network security

Network security solutions and protocols are designed to keep your online activity safe. It is a comprehensive system that considers every aspect of vulnerability on the internet and seeks to protect your system against it. Such solutions not only protect your system from external attacks but also ensure internal security is maintained to counter potential vulnerabilities.

Multiple levels of protection ensure the system is resistant to attacks. Information is broken down into multiple parts, rather than being transmitted as a whole. Each part is then independently encrypted and then shared over separate communication paths. This type of security is a preventative measure against potential vulnerabilities in the system.

Ensuring a robust cybersecurity framework is essential as you navigate online risks and threats. For organizations looking to manage their attack surface optimally, Intruder’s guide to ASM tools gives insights on managing digital assets and vulnerabilities effectively.

Use Strong Passwords

What Makes a Strong Password?   A password should be long. Use at least 12 characters. Use upper and lower case letters, numbers and special characters.

To help you remember, use a passphrase that implements the use of various elements but means something to you when you read it.

Example of a passphrase: Within your long password you can used words like great, but spell it like Gre@t.   Or write the word sun like $un

Finally, never use an old password. And make sure each of your logins have it’s own unique password.  This protects against credential stuffing, which is when a scammer who has learned your user name and password on one of your accounts tries the same combination on all of your other accounts.

Conclusion

Internet security is an increasingly relevant concern. Greater business reliance on remote work and cloud-based solutions may offer new opportunities, but it has also opened new vulnerabilities in business systems. With the increasing risk of cyberattacks and ever-evolving types of attacks, it is more important than ever for businesses to adopt an internet security protocol.

Implementing a comprehensive network security system can counter a lot of system vulnerabilities. Businesses can employ many other methods, such as DNS solutions and VPN technology, to ensure their business remains safe and secure, and ready to deal with potential attacks.

From February-August 2022, hackers, primarily Russian, intensified attacks on providers’ and home networks in the Western hemisphere. They aimed to restore the transmission of misinformation to the audience worldwide. But that’s not only the single aim. Blackmail and personal data are widespread in the world.

Weak security on home WiFi networks is a common way that hackers target unsuspecting internet users.  So how do you fight against it? Let’s study this question of how to fix WiFi security to secure your devices and your family.

What is Wi-Fi?

Wi-Fi is a radio network delivering the signal to the receivers on short distances sending data. Modern phones, tablets, and computers have an inboard Wi-Fi connector to contact the router. If the device hasn’t it or needs boosting for confident reception, the user can deploy adaptors. Or choose one of two bands – 2,4, or 5 GHz.

Network advantages

• Quicker data exchange. The devices at home synchronize at speeds of 300 Mbps or faster. Besides, they don’t need wires to connect.

• Freedom of exploiting the Internet in the signal range. Move the PC throughout the apartment without being afraid to lose connection.

Is Wi-Fi a secure way to transmit?

Theoretically, yes, but it’s possible to intercept the signal. Traditionally it sends encrypted signals containing the people’s queries and the website’s content. But these securing network measures aren’t enough because the hackers use different software to read the streams. The unauthorized clients can change the router settings in their favor or reduce the total speed. Or use it for fraud purposes.

How to increase the safety of the home network

The most vulnerable device is the router. It’s responsible for the file and data transmitted between the devices in the home and office. That’s the system heart that needs corresponding protection.

The first piece of advice to fix WiFi security is a regular software update. It contains the system settings and has a current threat roster. Any DDoS attack doesn’t disturb you. Then check the password used to connect to the Internet and change it every quarter to protect the home network. If the Wi-Fi belongs to the office or public place, this frequency is monthly or biweekly.

My favorite thing is to try to test entering the router’s home page and even try to join its control panel. I don’t intend to change the settings or break the Internet connection, but understand how their administrators protect the network. But what if the visitor collects these data and sends them to particular databases containing the list of equipment with unchanged default settings?

It increases vulnerability. Unauthorized users reduce the speed, reroute the traffic or even spy on what you are doing in bed with that girl from the shop while your wife is on night shift. To avoid this, change it if the provider allows that function. Some providers and manufacturers restrict it.

Dual-band Modems

The dual-band modems have the advantage of splitting the audience. For example, the home users connect on 2,4 GHz, and the guests or major consumers use the 5 GHz band. That measure allows us to estimate who causes harm to all other clients. I expect that you’ll use different passwords for these networks.

Some routers offer antivirus and antispam options. It’s a great addition to the newest WPA3 standard of protection. These ideas will improve the security of your territory. The essential feature is parenting control. It protects the children from undesired content.

Today cybercriminals try to use personal devices in their illegal practices. That is, the personal computers are under threat Wi-Fi says weak security too.

Even children are at risk when playing games online.  The IoT is still interesting for hackers as these items bring information about customers’ lifestyles and preferences. As a result, it gets spam. They have inner vulnerabilities allowing them to perform the undesired actions.

In addition to classic actions, include to the checklist:

• Regular operating system security updates on the personal devices;
• The highest parenting control settings won’t be excessive even if the family has no children;
• The routers with protective add-ons are more expensive but secure too. Don’t refuse to protect the home or office environment.

Proxies sit at the center of two separate networks and control data transfers from both sides. First-generation proxies were originally developed to support caching of frequently visited websites. As time passed, developers got more creative and informed, creating more reliable and functional proxies.

First-generation proxies still exist, but they can’t meet the demands and requirements of modern technology trends. Future-proof proxies meet the high needs for functionality while delivering exceptional speed and reliability.

Understanding the Evolution of Proxies

The history of proxies is not exclusively defined. There is little known info on the invention of proxy servers. However, computer and networking tech-savvy gurus link proxies to the 1970s when Bolt, Beranek, and Newman built the first internet network.

The growth trend has remained constant, with developers creating more promising proxies. Today, you can find proxy servers that support extension, customization, and ease of deployment. There are even programmable proxies capable of fulfilling high-end networking goals and functions. Here are the stages of evolution proxy servers have gone through.

Old-Style Proxy Servers

The first proxy servers to ever penetrate the internet and networking industry were simple and less complicated. They just sat between external networks and local-area networks, offering a layer of functionality and safety. These first-generation proxies supported the sharing of single connections between different computer devices. They achieved such functions by sitting between the client app and the computer, where they accepted and forwarded commands.

Old-style proxy servers could bar, control and sanction specified communications within the client app and the external networks. The proxies’ most fundamental yet beneficial role was conserving bandwidth and boosting network efficiency. These old proxies needed individual configurations to connect to client programs, and this need was a hassle, to say the least. Although these proxies limited internet costs, the setup process was complex and demanding. That prompted the invention of superior proxy servers such as the Network Address Translation (NAT).

The later firewalls have become stronger and more functional, supporting communications regulation between external and internal network borders. They control traffic on different levels, including high-level application contents and low-level network protocols. Most firewall vendors have upgraded their systems into reliable, secure proxy products that meet modern demands.

Present-day Proxy Servers

Current proxies exceed supreme safety and performance standards. These proxies have evolved from mere systems with guard-dog security functions and internet sharing programs to sophisticated systems with superb content authentication and caching abilities. The present-day proxy server offers portable authentication. A good example is where people want to access censored subscription-based third-party services. The present-day residential proxies from a legitimate proxy provider can help them bypass this restriction.

Modern proxies have features that support content caching to save bandwidth and speed up connections. The past-era proxies lacked the content caching feature, so you had to struggle with bandwidth and slow page load problems. Fortunately, hybrid proxy versions have high-end proxy servers and firewall features. The hybrid proxies feature the firewall and NAT features of the old and high-performing and efficient SOCKS5 configurations.

Future-proof Proxies

Developers have moved a step ahead to develop future-proof and reliable proxies. Naturally, proxy servers as individual products have a limited lifespan. Yes, modern-day SOCKS and proxies sit in restricted network environments powered by old operating systems. However, developers are continually inventing SOCKS and proxies powered by modern operating systems. The network environments where the future-proof proxies sit are now more extensive and accommodative.

Therefore, future-proof proxies have longer breadths and include all the needed authentication, content filtering, and caching functions. These proxies have advanced architecture and engineering aimed at preventing extinction. The modern proxies combine the old-style software firewalls with modern-day SOCKS, offering a secure and stable border between external and internal networks.

Conclusion

Like every other tech product, proxy servers have evolved significantly over the last few years. Today, the choice proxies at your disposal reinforce performance and internet security while steadying and shortening website load times. The traditional firewalls and proxies have not exhausted their usefulness but can lead to data leaks. Realize that there are hundreds of time-proven and effective proxy servers that can mask and add a layer of security to your connections. Read online proxy server reviews and testimonials to know which ones fit the bill.