Hack my fishtank???!!!

Well.... I was running a ethernet line to my tank for when I receive my base module back from warranty. Something terrible popped in my head as I was doing this.

What if someone hacked into my tanks controller? Is it even possible?

I have yet to explore the additional capabilities of the apex in regards to remote access. And I am not sure the logistics of it yet. Everyone hears these horror stories of sites getting hacked.

Since my controller will be hooked to the web can someone hack into it and do something crazy like turn the temp all the way up and killing everything in my tank? I know what a scary thought.

 

when i was researching controllers i was thinking the same thing, but to be honest you'd have to setup your "Router" to allow people on the internet to access the controllers internal IP address.

that'd be a crappy thing to do to someone!

 

I dont have anything setup wireless here.... all hardwire.

Forgive me but all I have is my cable from comcast coming into the "box" they supplied.
Then from there I have an ethernet cable to a router. then router off to 2 computers and soon my controller. Not sure if this would put me at risk in any way to a crazy hacker. I know it sounds goofy.... but you never know.

 

Yes, they could. Easily. You will want to change the admin username and password on the Apex once it's passed through the firewall. PM sent.

 

You also want to change teh password on your firewall (the comcast box) and make sure that all of the accounts on your computer have passwords.

Dont make them easy either and make them over 8 charicters. 4 and 5 char passwords can be brute force hacked in seconds. 6 takes a bit longer 7 never completed after 3 days of testing.

I'm a network engineer specializing in security so if you have questions PM me.

 

people are just mean, so I could definately see that happening!

I know one of our biggest concern in the fish store is NOT dry good thef, but people dropping stuff into the tanks! I have heard of competitors dropping bleach, toilet bowl cleaner, or ammonia into tanks.

I dont know what happened right before I started BUT the fish just dropped dead overnight and the water was all cloudy, murky and bad. Every fish in the main system was dead....the smaller systems, and the invert system was fine. No anemones, sea apples or corals were in that system. No puffers, etc at that time. So no reasonable explanation could be concluded. Security cameras were then set up on all the tanks.

My personal belief was a disgruntled employee did it. It was right before a major remodel where the store was closed for a month, and there was an employee that was fired shortly after...so dont know if something was going on then or not????

But I have heard from both old and current store owners of this concern, so I definately can see higher tech attacks.

good luck

 

yea kinda terrible that we gotta think this way..... schackmel more than likely it was the disgruntled employee...

I gotta becareful to never break up with my loved one.... she could ruin my tank before I can get it outta the house . But She likes the tank too much to do such a thing.

 

Also consider a router if you don't already have one. This will help a lot _IF_ you change the default password. For some reason, no one ever seems to do this... and it's especially easy (follow the login instructions). It will cost you < 40 USD and you don't have to get wireless.

Once you have a router setup, you could also do "port forwarding", and switch the external port that this operates on to a higher number (only necessary if, say, it operates on a port less than ~1000). This will keep most port-surfers from even knowing it exists.

Sounds like you have something really cool! Good luck!