I suspect a neighbour keeps breaking into my Samsung account

[Dukovich]

I live in a tight apartment building complex so quite a few people are inside my wifi 'circle'.  A lot of poor, angry people live here who can't afford internet, and quite a few dislike me because I refuse to associate with these people due to the fact that they have no basic human decency. They are also angry that I work for a living.  ANYWAY, I have gone to my Samsung internet and found that the search history was totally foreign to me, which tells me that my Samsung internet is being hacked.

Secondly (and this is my fault) I accidentally, through indiscriminate handling of my phone while physically busy, accidentally added about 5 of my beginning contacts to be able to view my profile (some of these contacts were unfortunately building contacts) on my Samsung contacts list which listed my emergency info. They had access to my list of meds and of me stating in my profile that 'if I am found dead it is not suicide as I do not believe in it'.

My list of meds makes it clear that I have depression issues and also take pain meds. The neighbour(s) who got accidental access seemed to have the ACCESS TO EDIT everything, which is REALLY the point. How can these people have access to edit???? They changed my emergency info to say "if I am found OD'd it is suicide, it's my choice".

This hurt me. But more important than that, I want to keep my emergency part of my profile filled out but I don't feel safe anymore.

How can I ensure that my Samsung is unhackable (as in me finding my Samsung internet with unrecognizable searches that someone else did) and how can I ensure that contacts cannot get into my profile?

I feel like Samsung is not as secure as, say, Google, as no one has ever APPARANTLY hacked my Google account.

So what have I failed to do to secure my Samsung account?

I also have a Samsung smart TV, is that making a weakness? Are people accessing my Samsung through my tv?  I just basically have a feeling that Samsung is a leaky boat application vs., say, Google, Yahoo, or Firefox/Duck Duck Go.

If someone can help me secure my Samsung account to an 'iron clad' level I would appreciate it.

Thank you.

[CHMultimedia · Accepted solution]

Review the list of devices to which your Samsung account is logged in. Revoke access to your profile for unwanted individuals. Change passwords.

[Dukovich]

thank you

[TBone · Accepted solution]

I would agree.

[carr0498 · Accepted solution]

how do you connect to the Internet? do you have wifi? do you know if your router is properly secured? (change default password, use MAC Address filtering, etc)

[Dukovich]

Thank you. I'm not incredibly computer literate. I use a router, which my computers are directly plugged into and my smaller items like phones, tablets, my tv use the router's wifi.
My Router/wifi uses passwords, I don't know what MAC address filtering is.
I was thinking of just getting a VPN for my router/ all of my family's devices in hopes that would give me security.
why do you think?

[carr0498 · Accepted solution]

Ok so that's good news that you have passwords on your WIFI. I'm just more wondering if your administration section of your router is secured. Do you know what kind of router you have? Look on the sticker usually underneath and find the Model number. If you can log into it via the web browser (http://192.168.1.1) and use the username "admin" and password "admin" or "passsword" or empty, that would be a cause for concern and would be your weak point for the intrusion.

Every network devices has what's called a MAC address. Think of it as an address on an envelope or package that you send in the mail. Each data packet is encased (like an enevlope containing a letter) with a MAC address ... both the sender, and the recipient Your router uses this to know which packets go to which device inside your network. Your WIFI's access point can restrict which MAC addresses can connect to it. That's called MAC Address Filtering. Usually is a series of 12 hexidecimal characters.... the format looks like A1:34:45:CE:9B:FF. You can find every wireless device's MAC address in the device's settings, whether it's a TV, Ninendo WiiU, Xbox One, PS4, Android Phone, AppleTV box, etc etc.... You put all of those into the router's MAC Address Filtering, and enable it, then ONLY those devices can connect wirelessly to your Router.

Hope I explained that well enough. Depending on your Router Model, I would be able to find instructions for you on how to set it up with the router you own.

[Dukovich]

what do you think about having for a VPN for all my devices? Would it be a quick and easy way to safeguard all of my devices? Or is it exaggerated privacy?

[carr0498 · Accepted solution]

vpn is only good from your router out to the Internet. but inside your home network, it won't secure it further. it will keep the traffic outside your router "masked", in that you won't be traceable back.

[Dukovich]

Ye, I've also seen the MAC address you mentioned. I can look into what you instructed me on regarding that.
I also absolutely have never left my password as 'admin' or 'password'.