"Security by default" is a critical approach highlighted in response to the "meow bot" attacks on unsecured databases, emphasizing the necessity of integrating security measures directly into technology products from the outset. These attacks exploit open databases by overwriting data with the word "meow" and numbers, showcasing the ease with which cybercriminals can target unsecured systems due to the rising demand for customer data and the availability of low-cost hacking tools. Elastic products, including Elasticsearch, combat this threat by incorporating free security features like TLS encryption and role-based access control, which are enabled by default and cannot be disabled in Elastic Cloud deployments. The post underscores the importance of vigilance in securing sensitive data, recommending the use of external scanning systems to detect exposed databases and promoting educational resources such as Elastic's free "Fundamentals of Securing Elasticsearch" course to help organizations safeguard their information effectively.