How to Protect Your Drone From Theft
Whether you already own a UAV or you’re contemplating buying one of the top drones in 2020, take the concern about it being lost or stolen seriously.
New technology is always fun and exciting to have and to use, but don’t forget that securing it against possible threats is one of the first things you should do before taking your drone for a test run.
If you’re finding yourself eagerly unpacking your brand new UAV in the backyard of your Indian Bayou Trail home, wondering how to protect the drone from unwanted interception and theft, the following lines will provide just what you need: the essential advice to keep your aircraft safe at all times.
How easy is it to hack a drone?
Just as many other electronic devices, such as computers and smartphones, a drone can be hacked to accomplish two goals: to identify and steal the data it’s carrying or to take control over it, causing the drone to crash in places where the thief could easily pick them up.
None of these events is something any drone owner would like to experience, yet many often fail to prepare for such eventualities. Make sure not to make such a mistake yourself.
Although hacking is never easy and private drones are not as likely to be intercepted maliciously as the military ones can be, following these prescriptions will save your money and grant you peace of mind.
- Quality comes at a price, so buy responsibly
Prices for drones can vary significantly. As a civilian, you can purchase a UAV for a cost between around a hundred up to several hundred thousand dollars, depending on your needs and finances. The higher the price, the better the quality of an aircraft you’re getting.
Expectedly, the cheapest among them are the most vulnerable ones. To lower the price of their products, UAV manufacturers often compromise with the security of their drones.
This doesn’t mean that you have to cash out lavishly if you’re buying your very first drone. However, bear in mind that opting for the least expensive options comes with more risks, so behave accordingly.
- Never operate using an open connection
Complex as it is, intercepting a UAV becomes a whole lot easier if the connection your ground controller uses to operate the drone is open: it’s basically screaming for attacks. Fail to handle this and any unwanted intruder could easily locate your devices and steal or crash your drone in plain sight.
To avoid any unpleasantness, make sure to install a trusted anti-malware software and update it regularly, along with your antivirus. Just like with your computer, this type of protection is necessary for this day and age.
In case you often operate your drone using a smartphone, invest in a reliable VPN for iPhone or Android. It will create a private network, masking your IP address and making your actions digitally untraceable.
- Stay clear of restricted areas
There are numerous apps on the market that will help you figure out where you can and can’t fly your drone, but you should definitely consult the law as well, as each country has its own set of rules.
What happens if you fly your drone near or into a restricted area? It depends: you could get off with a warning, or pay a pretty hefty fee.
If you get near “no drone” areas housing some military or state objects that are heavily protected against terrorist attacks, however, your drone can be intercepted and taken down as soon as it’s spotted, so make sure to toe the line.
- Mind your flying habits and behavior
No matter how great it feels to fly your drone in a local park, by the river, or anywhere you may enjoy it, be careful when often choosing the same spot to showcase your UAV. Although more and more people buy drones these days, the sight of a person who regularly visits the same places with their aircraft can easily be remembered and taken advantage of.
Of course, you’re still all right to spend time in places you like most. Just keep an eye on your drone at all times and make sure it’s adequately protected in terms of VPN and antivirus.
- Lost sight of your drone? Set the RTH option
Some drone manufacturers have foreseen the unwanted situations such as losing eye contact with your UAV, not anticipating a low battery before it happens and similar, allowing you to command your drone to return-to-home (what RTH stands for). This feature can be very useful because a wandering drone can easily become a stolen drone.
To help your UAV return home safely, make sure to fly it outside areas where tall buildings, metal structures, magnetic fields, and high voltage cables can interfere with the signal.
Author Bio:
Leon Collier is a blogger and an experienced paper writer from the UK. He enjoys writing in various niches, including pop-culture, history, travel, self-development, education, and marketing. Leon loves history books and enjoys playing tabletop games with his friends.
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