Fiber-Optics Hacking Top Myths and Key Solutions

Fiber-Optics Hacking Top Myths and Key Solutions

It is assumed that fiber optic provides optimum security to your data. There are many times that we lose fiber optic signal strength and sometimes we even lose connection for a few seconds or a minute, but after regaining the signal strength and connectivity, we brush it off by saying that “it was a minor network glitch maybe.”

Why don’t we think that someone, somewhere might be breaching our private data? The following myths will help you realize how safe or unsafe a fiber-optic network is? And whether or not it can be hacked?

Myth 1: Only Experts Can Hack A Fiber Optic Network

It is often assumed that hackers are some geniuses that learn how to hack a network after decades of experience and training. This assumption is absolutely incorrect! It requires less of genius mind and more of an evil one to learn how to hack the privacy and security of the fiber-optic network users.

Myth 2: Hacking A Fiber Optic Network Is Impossible

In no way, new technology translates into more secure technology. Because with new technology, hackers come with newer ways to hack it. Similarly, it is often assumed that optical fiber network cannot be hacked; however, there have been numerous cases of optical fiber network hacking in the past, and it only requires watching a few videos online to learn how to hack a FTTX network.

Myth 3: Network Glitches Are “Okay”

If you are experiencing a sudden signal strength drop or a connection failure, the chances a high that your network is being tapped. Rather than assuming that “it’s okay, it would be just a minor glitch,” inquire to ensure that your data is not being hacked.

Myth 4: Hacking Equipment Is Specialized, So It Is Expensive And Illegal:

A basic network installation and repair toolkit that includes CAT 5 or 6 network cable and clip-on coupler or a fiber blending clamp is enough to hack any optical fiber network. At most, the price of a more specialized device costs somewhere between a couple of thousand dollars. All the equipment is readily available, and it is in no way considered illegal; however, the wrong use of the equipment makes it illegal.

Myth 5: It Takes An Expert To Detect a Fiber Optic Cable Network

External fiber optic cables are at a higher risk than the underground ones. Besides, to protect fiber cables from getting damaged, officials often put up caution signs that make it even easier for intruders to detect them.

Key Solutions

There is nothing much that you can do to protect your fiber optic cable network. Utmost, you can do is to select a widely trusted network provider with a team that actively works to ensure that their network is not at risk of being tapped.

Apart from that, you can take a few precautionary steps yourself, like making sure that your FTTH network is end-to-end encrypted for extra security. You can inform your network provider if you are experiencing network glitches too often. You can even try using security products like a trusted VPN service to protect your data from intruders or invest in a trustable intrusion detection software.