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Encryption is the backbone of modern cybersecurity, protecting everything from online banking to personal messages. One of the most widely used encryption standards today is 128-bit AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), commonly found in Wi-Fi security (WPA2 and WPA3), VPNs, and secure online transactions. However, a persistent myth suggests that 128-bit encryption is vulnerable to being hacked. In reality, breaking this encryption is virtually impossible with today’s computing power. The real security risk? Your password.

Debunking the Myth: Is 128-Bit Encryption Really Hackable?

Some fearmongers claim that advancements in computing, particularly quantum computing, are making 128-bit encryption obsolete. However, let’s break down the reality:

  • Brute Force Attacks Are Impractical: A 128-bit key consists of 2^128 (340 undecillion) possible combinations. Even if a supercomputer could test one trillion (10^12) keys per second, it would still take billions of years to crack a single key.

  • Quantum Computing Is Not There Yet: While quantum computers may one day break some encryption schemes, they are still in their infancy. Even then, AES-128 is not the first target—RSA and ECC encryption are more vulnerable.

  • No Documented Case of 128-Bit AES Being Broken: Despite widespread use in government and commercial security, there has never been a proven instance of AES-128 being broken in practice.

The Real Threat: Weak Passwords and Poor Security Practices

While encryption itself is incredibly strong, hackers don’t need to brute force it if they can just steal your password. This is where most security breaches happen.

1. Password Reuse and Data Breaches

Most people reuse passwords across multiple accounts. If one of those accounts gets breached, attackers can use the leaked credentials to access other services—this is called credential stuffing.

Solution: Use unique, strong passwords for each account and store them in a password manager.

2. Weak Passwords Are Easily Guessable

Common passwords like “password123” or “qwerty” are easily cracked using dictionary attacks. Even slightly more complex passwords can be guessed with rainbow tables, precomputed lists of password hashes.

Solution: Choose a password with at least 12-16 characters, including a mix of letters, numbers, and symbols.

3. Phishing Attacks

Rather than hacking encryption, cybercriminals often use phishing emails and fake websites to trick users into giving away their passwords.

Solution: Always verify links before clicking, enable multi-factor authentication (MFA), and avoid entering passwords on unfamiliar sites.

4. Default or Unchanged Router Passwords

Wi-Fi security relies on encryption like WPA2-AES, but if a hacker knows your Wi-Fi password, they don’t need to break AES encryption—they can just log in.

Solution: Change your default router password and use WPA3 or WPA2-AES (not TKIP) for the best security.

Smart Installations' Commitment to Security

At Smart Installations, we prioritise security in all our Wi-Fi networks and security systems, ensuring that 128-bit AES encryption is the minimum standard we use. Whether installing a smart home network, securing a business environment, or setting up advanced security systems, we rely on strong encryption protocols to protect your data from unauthorized access.

Focus on the Real Threats

128-bit AES encryption is incredibly secure, and fears of it being hacked are unfounded. Instead of worrying about theoretical attacks on encryption, focus on practical security measures:

✅ Use strong, unique passwords for every account. ✅ Enable multi-factor authentication (MFA) where possible. ✅ Be cautious of phishing emails and suspicious links. ✅ Secure your Wi-Fi with WPA3 or WPA2-AES and a strong password. ✅ Use a password manager to generate and store complex passwords safely.

By addressing the real entry points hackers exploit, you can ensure that your encrypted data remains safe, now and in the future.


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