Smart speakers are great: But if you’re worried about accidental (or intentional) eavesdropping, find and use the mic mute and camera shutter buttons on your devices. On an Echo, the light will turn red to indicate the mic is off.
Listener question: Is 5G wireless service as secure as wired cable service?
Although 5G is rolling out all over the country, there’s uncertainty about the fifth generation of mobile technology. Some people worry about it causing cancer. Others are concerned about security.
Rick from Seattle, WA, called “The Kim Komando Show” with cybersecurity concerns. He said T-Mobile recently made 5G cellular internet service available in his city. He asked, “Is 5G wireless service as secure as wired cable?” Good question! We’ve got you covered, Rick.
Here’s the answer
From a security perspective, 5G wireless and wired cable services have their own strengths and weaknesses. Neither is 100% secure nor immune to attack. However, each service comes with unique security measures and risks you should know about.
Cable service is generally considered to be more secure than wireless service. Here’s why:
- Physical wired connections aren’t subject to radio frequency (RF) interference or interception.
- Plus, wired connections can be more easily protected with security measures like encryption or firewalls.
- These security measures can help prevent unauthorized access and data breaches.
- These tools are especially important when you remember that Americans lost $20 billion to data breaches in just five years.
Despite this, 5G wireless service also has security features to protect against eavesdropping, tampering and other attacks.
Is 5G secure? Pros and cons
Check out the table below for more details.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 5G networks use end-to-end encryption to protect your data. | They come with unique security challenges, like a greater risk of denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. |
| The next-generation networks have strong authentication and authorization protocols to prevent unauthorized access. | 5G also comes with potential rogue access points hackers can use to intercept your data. |
| 5G networks are designed to provide enhanced security features for Internet of Things (IoT) devices. | 5G networks are being widely deployed ➡️. There’s a larger attack surface ➡️. It might be harder to find and prevent breaches. |
Overall, wired cable and 5G wireless services can be secure if appropriate security measures are taken. The key is to ensure that the service is configured correctly and secured. You should also be aware of the risks and vulnerabilities associated with each type of service.
Keep reading
This malware can eavesdrop on your calls using your phone’s motion sensors
When you install an app, do you read the fine print? You know, all those terms and conditions you may have blindly agreed to when you clicked “Agree.”
Guess what? You may have given those apps permission to listen to you using your microphone. Want to find out which apps are spying on you? Tap or click here and Kim will show you how to find them and put a stop to it.
It's come to this - a charger that keeps your phone from listening
If you’re not sure if your devices are always listening, we’ll help you out. They are. Your smartphone, smart assistants/speakers, smart home devices and smart TVs listen for wake words or other vocal cues. Big Tech companies also listen to you through your devices.
Keep your Amazon Echo from listening in with 'Alexagate' jamming device
It’s no secret that smart speakers are always listening. How else would they be able to pick up on the wake word and know when you’re asking a question? There literally is no other way.
Listening is one thing, but recording and storing conversations is something completely different. You might be shocked at how many times smart assistants like Amazon’s Alexa accidentally record your conversations, often because it “hears” the wrong wake word. Tap or click here to find out how to stop it from happening.