Are The Hacks on Mr. Robot For Real?

The answer to the question is a resounding “yes.” This is one of the reasons why the show has become so popular among viewers, in that it showcases hacks that are very believable and more importantly, very real. “Mr. Robot” recently bagged the lead actor award in the 2016 Emmy Awards, for the performance of newbie actor Rami Malek as the hacker Elliott Alderson.

Ex-Hackers, FBI agents, Cybersecurity experts Keep It Real

According to Wired, the show’s creative team is backed by people who are involved in hacking and cybersecurity in the real world. Among the show’s consultants include former hackers, the FBI agents who run after hackers and even cybersecurity experts. Creator Sam Esmail and producer Kor Adana are taking great lengths to make sure that what happens in the show are accurate portrayals of what can happen for real.

Before any hack can be portrayed in the show, tech consultants will get to work on doing the actual hack or security breach, from running the software or the code, to taking screenshots of how it’s being done. Only then can the scene or series of scenes be shot.

Mr. Robot fans Want It Real

The growing fanbase of the show keeps the show’s creative and technical team on its toes. Adana himself admitted to not watching the show for feedback but instead, he watches out for comments on Twitter or Reddit. They are also very conscious about making mistakes when it comes to the featured hacks. While Season 1 had its share of a few mistakes, Season 2, according to another Wired article, features more complicated hacks which require more technical preparation.

Takeaways from Mr. Robot

Given that the security breaches and the hacks that are shown in the show are in fact a reflection of reality, the show has brought to light the very real security issues that each private individual must take seriously.

One’s online behavior can very well be monitored by someone or a group of someones without one’s knowledge. Taking simple precautionary measures such as getting rid of malware, or not visiting sites that may have these malware should be part of one’s online safety protocols. Another simple measure is placing a piece of tape on the webcam of one’s laptop to block any possible attempt to control it and take unwanted video.

Hopefully, the success of “Mr. Robot” will continue to highlight issues such as these that ordinary netizens should take heed if they want to survive in this increasingly interconnected world.