- A couple of years ago,
the YouTuber LockPickingLawyer posted this video.
And I wasn't the only one to notice.
In this clip, he used a 433 megahertz remote
to disable a SimpliSafe system.
This simple gadget works on the same frequency
as the SimpliSafe and jams the signal
from the base station to the sensor.
Since that video was posted,
we've seen comments from our viewers asking
about SimpliSafe's strength against hackers.
There's also been a lot of buzz
about the system jamming method
and its legitimacy as a threat.
Does it work?
How common is it?
And how could someone prevent it?
On today's Ask SafeWise,
I'm going to test the method too
and share a few ways that you can prevent hacks
and system jamming.
(gentle music)
Your security system
and all of its sensors use radio waves to communicate.
When you send a strong enough signal on that same frequency,
it can interrupt that communication.
This could, in theory, allow someone to trigger a sensor
without setting off the alarm.
So, just like LockPickingLawyer,
I bought a cheap 433 megahertz remote online
and held it up to my SimpliSafe base station
while it was armed, and nothing.
So, I tried it next to a sensor
while the system was armed,
and nothing again.
Now, I'm not an engineer, a computer scientist,
or a lock picking lawyer,
so I'm not too surprised this didn't work for me.
Working with radio signals takes a bit of knowledge
and training to do successfully,
which makes me skeptical
about this kind of attack in the first place.
Anyone who tries to get into your home this way
clearly knows what they're doing
and has planned for it far in advance.
The technical nature of this whole process
would make this kind of attack pretty rare.
Most burglaries are crimes of opportunity
and use brute force methods that can be detected
with an armed security system
and sensors in the right place.
So, does this mean SimpliSafe is hacker proof?
No.
But does it mean that anyone can point a car remote
at your security system and get in?
Definitely not.
(upbeat music)
If you're still worried about hacking and signal jamming,
we have a few tips directly from SimpliSafe
as well as a few of our own to share with you.
Number one, change your security system PIN
and Wi-Fi passwords regularly.
If you share a password or PIN
with someone outside of your household,
change it once they're done
or change it every couple months.
The schedule isn't really the important thing,
but what really matters is that these important codes
aren't the same for just years and years on end.
It's an easy way to keep hackers on their toes,
and you mindful of what your security system is doing.
Two, monitor your home security app
and camera feeds while you're gone.
Ignoring warnings and signs from your security system app
can be a big mistake.
If a sensor goes off or your system alarm sounds,
investigate it.
And if it's a false alarm,
learn what triggered it and try to fix the issue.
Three, take note of suspicious
or unidentified people and equipment near your home.
Note the date, time, and location.
And if you have two-way audio on an outdoor camera,
let them know they're being watched.
Four, skip the branded sign.
The yard sign that comes with your security system
let's burglars know you're on to them.
But a simple Google search for your system
can tell intruders what you are working with.
This can leave you vulnerable
to anyone determined and knowledgeable enough to get in.
So while you shouldn't skip the yard sign all together,
you can find generic signs
that tell others your home is safe and well-guarded.
You can find generic security signs on Amazon
for just a few bucks.
We'll drop links in the descriptions
if you wanna check those out.
(gentle upbeat music)
Unfortunately, there isn't a completely
bulletproof home security system out there.
That chess game between intruders
and home security brands continues
with folks like us caught in the middle.
The best way to avoid hackers and intruders
is to be prepared with a few basic best practices
that keep you, your home, and everything in it safe.
If we left you with more questions,
drop them in the comments below.
We make Ask SafeWise videos every week,
and we would love to hear what's on your mind.
Tag those comments with the #asksafewise,
and we might feature your questions on a future episode.
Thanks for watching and stay safe.
(gentle upbeat music continues)