11-year-old American told how to defend against cyber threats

Photo: twitter / Reuben Paul @RAPst4r

Do you think there is nothing more harmless than a teddy bear? Cybersecurity expert Rubin Paul will convince you that this is not the case.

According to Share AmericaIn his 11 years of age, Rubin knows more about Internet security than most adults. He acted as a keynote speaker at the International International Conference 2017, the recently held international conference in The Hague, and surprised the audience by demonstrating how easily smart toys connected to the Internet can be used to steal sensitive information.

Rubin investigated all the vulnerabilities in his “smart” teddy bear that connects to the Internet via a wireless network and has a built-in microphone. “With this microphone, I managed to turn the toy into a spy device,” he said.

Rubin hooked up a tiny Raspberry Pi single-board computer to the toy, scanned the conference room to search for devices equipped with Bluetooth, and gave the bear a command to set the names of people and phone numbers stored in these devices.

Those present in the hall, especially those whose gadgets were hacked, were stunned.

This example proves the need to ensure cybersecurity in the conditions of the rapid growth of the “Internet of things”, when everyday objects are connected to the network and can communicate with one another. Rubin Bear showed how dangerous it can be.

“The Internet of Things is the next generation of technology, and we all have to agree,” says Rubin. “But people should be careful, they should not mindlessly plug into any device in the system without being convinced of their safety.”

Rubin became interested in cyber security at the age of six, his first teacher was his father, an expert in this field. When Rubin turned eight, he gave a presentation at a thematic conference in Louisville, Kentucky.

The speech was pleasant, and Rubin was invited to conferences, both in the USA and abroad.

Photo: twitter / Reuben Paul @RAPst4r

He always warns of the danger of repeatedly using the same password. “Many people,” he says, “use the same password for both bank accounts and social media accounts. As a result, if a hacker manages to acquire a password, he gets full access to all the user's personal information. ”

He considers the wireless connection in public places unsafe and advises regularly to update the operating system.

Rubin proposes to follow three basic principles of cybersecurity:

• do not speak superfluous, do not disclose personal information on the Internet;
• do not open questionable email attachments, download programs only from trusted sources;
• don't trust "Cybernestries ”, otherwise you may become a victim of“ phishing ”or other malicious programs.

Rubin not only speaks at conferences, but also works in a non-profit organization whose purpose is to inform users about cyber threats. In addition, keen on gymnastics and kung fu.

“I want to create secure applications and video games and help protect all people and our whole country from cyber threats,” says an eleven-year-old expert. “But first, I need to finish sixth grade.”

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