I work in tech support for a telecom company in Canada and often help people with internet and cell phone issues. A common concern from customers is about their devices being hacked or someone stealing their Wi-Fi. I usually reassure them that as long as they avoid sketchy apps or strange attachments, most hacking happens through social engineering, not direct attacks. While I understand the concern, I want to know how truly difficult it is to hack a phone or a modem and how common such incidents really are. I always recommend secure passwords and being cautious with personal information, but I'd like to be better prepared for these types of questions. Any insights would be helpful!
2 Answers
Hacking into devices isn't impossible, but it's pretty difficult for most folks. It's like trying to guess a number between a tiny decimal and an astronomically huge one. Sure, you might get some unlimited tries, but most people aren't equipped to really pull it off. Most hacking is about social engineering, where hackers trick someone into giving up their info, rather than someone standing outside your house trying to crack your Wi-Fi.
It's generally not worth the hassle unless you're a high-value target or a business exec. Most hacking isn't the Hollywood stuff; it's just people throwing passwords at various accounts. Home Wi-Fi can be cracked, but it's not something random kids are doing. The real risk comes from users not protecting their info or falling for scams.
Totally! Plus, many passwords out there are super weak like 'admin' or '123456', so that's often where the real risk lies.