Google Chromecast is a device that lets you stream content on your smart TV by connecting to a WiFi network. However, there are two problems regarding its security:
- these devices use the HTTP protocol which is quite vulnerable;
- these devices can exchange information between them without requiring authentication.
How long does it take for a hacker to access a Chromecast? Very little, considering that not so long ago, two hackers were able to access more than 70,000 Chromecast devices, showing unwanted videos and changing the name of the devices in Hacked_sub2pewds_ #.
Google immediately replied that the security flaw was not actually in the devices, but in the router settings, which make Internet-connected devices easy to identify and connect to each other.
This is not the only problem that can occur. If you have a guest at home and decide to grant them access to your WiFi, you can find your Chromecast “flooded” by other people’s streaming right in the middle of a top-level football game.
However, there is good news. Below you will find three crucial tips on how to improve Chromecast security.
1. Use a VPN
A private virtual network or a VPN works with the same mechanism as private company networks. However, instead of requiring an expensive dedicated hardware network, it uses a virtual tunnel protected by encryption and access systems that allow it to be used only by authorized users.
The principle of tunneling is this- any device connected to the Internet sends data packets that contain the sender’s IP address, the recipient’s IP address, the data type, and the network path.
In HTTPS connections, this information, called package headers, is visible to anyone connected to the Internet. With a VPN, however, the header and all information related to the data packet are only available for the send and receive node.
To create this virtual tunnel in which only sender and recipient can be seen, VPNs use an encryption protocol. There are several cryptographic protocols- PPTP is the most widespread, but there are also others such as IPsec, IKEv2 or OpenVPN, which are considered more secure.
Masking your IP address with a VPN can have other advantages. For example, you can overcome the geographical limits of some streaming TV programs and access movies and TV series that are not available in your country.
2. Create a VLAN
If you share the same Internet connection with other people, family members, or roommates, the main problem may be the unwanted videos that appear while you’re using Chromecast to see the MMA correspondence you’ve been waiting to see for the entire week.
If your router or switch supports this feature, you can create a virtual local area network (VLAN). You can use it to configure multiple local networks that can not be seen from one another but share the same hardware infrastructure. So you’ll have a private network to connect to your perfectly isolated Chromecast.
The creation of a VLAN is not particularly difficult, but it is still necessary to have technical knowledge.
3. Connect to Google Home in Guest mode
Another way to make Chromecast safer is to activate guest mode on Google Home. This way, nearby devices can only connect to Chromecast using a four-digit PIN.
To activate the guest mode Touch, you need to use a smartphone or tablet connected to the same WiFi connected to the Chromecast. For the device to be configured:
• tap the “Devices” button and scroll down to the Chromecast on which you want to activate Guest mode;
• touch the menu button → Guest mode.
• Tap the switch to “On.”
• Make a note of the four-digit PIN listed in “Guest Mode.”
This solution is only useful to prevent those who connect to your WiFi network from connecting to your Chromecast. However, it is not useful if you want to make Chromecast more secure from hacker attacks or to ensure greater privacy protection.
More helpful tips to make your Chromecast safer
There are other little tricks that can make a Chromecast safer. For example, I always use a protected WiFi network. Changing the default password is now a requirement because default Internet provider passwords are very simple to discover. There are also applications that can test the security of your WiFi network and identify any critical issues.
Google may collect data about domains and apps that you access through Chromecast to collect data about system activity (e.g., Report on crashes or functionality). If you want to manage this type of settings, go to the Google Home app and use the Settings menu on your device. The procedure is the same for Android TV devices and devices with integrated Chromecast.
If you use non-Google apps, please note that they may have different privacy policies than Google, for example, they may access the unique Chromecast identifier for digital rights management.
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