Can hackers get into my computer if it’s disconnected from the internet?

Apparently, not being connected to the internet does not make one immune to security theft by hackers.

 

Every right-thinking person would be concerned about the security of their data and no one wants their private information to get into wrong hands: fraud, embarrassment, extortion, emotional battery, compromise are some of the obvious reasons one would want their private information to remain just that – private. So, when a Quora user posted a question on the subject, we were very much interested in the answers. From the myriad of response provided, it becomes obvious that even when your computer is not connected to the internet, there are other means (all of then unsavoury, some more extreme than others) that hackers can utilise to get into your computer or at the very least cause harm to your information. Continue scrolling for more information.

 

Question posted anonymously.

“When my computer is disconnected from the Internet, could a hacker still get into my computer?”

 

 

We have  reproduced some of the best answers giver by the Quora community here in the hope that our readers might learn one or two things about how hackers might get their hands into private information stored on computers (including tablets, phones and other electronic storage devices).

 

#1: Answer by Franklin Veaux, using the Internet since it was called ARPAnet

Yes. A dedicated, well-funded state level actor or group of hackers could still get in if they were prepared to spend enough time and money to target you. The easiest way is simply to get into your house and gain access to your computer that way.

The easiest way is simply to get into your house and gain access to your computer that way. If they can’t break into your house, the next best way is to have you jack the computer for them, by tricking you. The easiest way to trick people is to send them an email with malware attached. Since your computer isn’t connected to the Internet, they have to trick you some other way.

One common way to trick people is to “accidentally” leave a USB memory stick lying in front of your house. It’s loaded with malware, and when you pick it up and put it in your computer, wham! You’ve just hacked yourself for them.

Protip: never plug a USB stick you find lying on the ground into any computer you care about.

If you’re too smart to do their work for them, then the options get more limited and more expensive.

Do you have a wireless printer? There are some sneaky things you can do by hacking the printer’s firmware. There are also some interesting things you can do by tampering with things like wireless cameras and other peripherals as a means of entry.

The fact that you’re not connected to the Internet doesn’t mean you aren’t connected to a local area network, and many device sites on your local network—smart TVs, that sort of thing—are Internet-facing. Some of them can offer a way in. A casino in Vegas recently got hacked when the hackers found and exploited a computerized automatic aquarium control system that, you guessed it, could be commanded over the Internet.

 

#2: Answer by Jeff Annis, Working in IT Hardware/Operating Systems for 15+ years

I think that Franklin Veaux, wrote a fairly compelling answer, however, I think that, from a semantics/functional standpoint, depending on the interpretation of your question, his answer may be a bit excessive. Note that I am not saying he is wrong, just that I interpret the question differently, perhaps because I have been using computers since before there were networks available to most of us.

My interpretation of the question is that it regards a stand-alone computer, not connected to any network/LAN/WAN. Implicit in this is that the computer is thus not connected to any Internet-facing devices. This limits any possible hacking to requiring physical access to the computer. For the sake of argument, we will assume that the location is secure enough to prevent this, though even if it is not, there are still ways to protect the data (such as disk encryption) from all but the elite hackers, and those who either remove the computer, or have a LOT of time to access it).The advice about not plugging USB drives into a computer you care about is sound. However, should you REALLY need to know what is on a mystery USB drive, running up-to-date anti-malware software on it immediately should give reasonable security for most home

The advice about not plugging USB drives into a computer you care about is sound. However, should you REALLY need to know what is on a mystery USB drive, running up-to-date anti-malware software on it immediately should give reasonable security for most home users. Doing this on a “sandbox” system (one with no real data available to it, and that can be completely deleted/re-imaged) afterword is even better.

Should there still be malware that somehow gets through, it is not going to be able to technically “hack” the computer in the sense that hack is most widely used (break into a computer to execute code for the purpose of stealing information or running instructions to control other networked devices). Again, we are talking of an isolated device here: how is the information going to get back to the hacker?

The worst the USB could do would be to install a virus or malicious software that would impair (or destroy) the functionality of the computer. That really hasn’t allowed someone “into the computer” it has just installed software. Windows in recent years has curtailed this greatly, asking your permission before executing “auto-run” (or in fact any unregistered) code in most cases.

Perhaps I am too narrow in my interpretation of the question. But per that interpretation, a computer is pretty difficult, and with a little common sense, nearly impossible to hack into if not online.

Kinda makes me think of how 20 years ago, I started shredding anything with my name on it before throwing it in the (physical) garbage/recycling to prevent ID theft. Though I still do this, every time I do, I think about the VERY small likelihood that any sophisticated ID thief still digs around in trash for this kind of opportunity. I am sure that most have moved online by now.

Again, this is not meant to contradict anyone, just provide a different viewpoint from a slightly different interpretation of the question.

 

#3: Answer by Andy Pieters, works at txtNation

Not usually no.

Can a hacker which has gained access to your premises get into your computer when it is disconnected from the internet? Very much so.

Now bear in mind that even if your computer is disconnected from the internet, not all devices that interact with it are necessarily offline either. There has been some work regarding hacking a computer by playing specially crafted sound. Ultimately, as long as it exists, it can be hacked given the right motivation.

 

#4: Answer by Jim Knopf, former Master Sergeant at U.S. Air Force (1982-2015)

Oh yeah!

I had an engineer get a “free” USB stick at a conference. She used it on our isolated network and unleashed a trojan which spread to our “DMZ”. Luckily, we stopped it there at our gateway. The military unit I was assigned to disables all USB storage devices for the same reason.

“Somebody” got a USB stick into the Iranian Nuclear Program’s control system. It released something called STUXNET which destroyed their centrifuges which were completely isolated from the internet.

 

#5: Answer by  Martino Ciresa Martino Ciresa, CS master student

If the WiFi is on, but disconnected, sure. There’s probably more than a way to create an ad-hoc connection.

If WiFi is off, there is still Bluetooth, maybe something can be done through that.

If Bluetooth is off he could physically access the machine.

If physical access is impossible he could trick you into doing something. Remember that the user is always the weakest link when it comes to security.

 

 

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