Japan to hack its citizens’ routers and webcams in name of cybersecurity

fastcompany.com

12 pointsmyinnerbanjo5 comments

This is actually a great idea. The government acting as a white hat and securing the vulnerable network infrastructure, including the home routers.

Not only can a compromised home router be used to target its users, but they are often used to attack other targets while hiding the tracks, those routers seldom log anything and if they do, the log is either in volatile RAM or otherwise easy to delete.

As long as it is indeed white hat activity without shades of gray.

the last part is the crucial part. I have no idea about Japan, but if my government tried something like that i wouldn't trust them at all.

But maybe devices should force password change for both admin login and wifi password when they are first booted up?

All they need do is contact the owner first and suggest changing the password, then offer the penetration test service. There is no need to do it without the owner's explicit consent.

Government right now are starting to become orwellian.

"starting" is putting it lightly...

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