The Internet of Things is one of the latest trends in technology. Statista predicts there will be more than 400 million smart homes around the globe by 2025.
Smart homes are super convenient and labor-saving. Various devices and gadgets can go online, and as a result, individuals are setting up smart homes as we speak.
But every novelty has a dark side, and in this case, smart homes need strong security to keep cyber criminals away. Let’s learn how to recognize and prevent security breaches in your smart home:
Why Are Smart Home Devices Interesting To Hackers?
New technologies are thrilling, but there are always security challenges. Cybercriminals are using every opportunity to create a security breach within smart homes. Believe it or not, one hacker took control of a coffee machine.
An investigation by which? has found that one smart home can experience 12,000 hacking attempts per week. Most of them are unsuccessful, but that number is terrifying.
Any smart device can become a target, but hackers are keen on smart TVs and speakers. Breaking into a smart home network is a treasure trove of personal information for cybercriminals. Make sure you know how to protect your devices in the long run.
Potential Threats And Solutions
Tracking Your Location
Most users think that having a smart home means their location will be invisible. However, cybercriminals know how to access your network and track your exact location.
It can even lead to break-ins since hackers could disable your cameras and other security devices. Cybercriminals can live in another country, but they might have accomplices anywhere.
What can you do to protect your location? Start by creating a separate network for your smart devices only. You may also consider using a VPN on a router as a precaution.
Also, talk to your family about general cyber security and teach them about phishing. It is a popular method hackers use to gain access to networks. Any suspicious message or email could be a phishing attempt.
Using Outdated Software
We are all guilty of skipping scheduled software updates, but be careful about smart home security. Missing just a single patch or update could give cyber criminals access to your smart devices.
Hackers are experts at exploiting outdated software, so remember that the next time you decide to ignore an update. With that said, the best way to prevent them from taking control of your smart devices is to keep up with the updates.
Setting up automatic updates is a good idea because most gadgets have this option. If this is not available to you, contact the manufacturer and see if you can receive emails alerting you to new patches or software updates.
Stealing Your Identity
Before you start putting together your smart home, double-check that the security company you plan on using has a solid reputation and no data breaches.
These businesses are frequent targets for hackers since they hold valuable information about the customers. Surely, it might seem like you can’t do a lot to protect your data, but the truth is you can!
Only fill out the mandatory fields without sharing too much unnecessary information. If your security company gets hacked, cyber criminals won’t have enough data on you. As always, keep up with the updates and the response after a security breach.
Extra Security Steps
Those who want to ensure their home networks are secure can do some extra security steps to protect the smart home setup. Here’s where to start:
A New Router
Most of us stick to our trusty router as long as the internet speed is acceptable. However, an old router has old security. Therefore, if you have extra funds in your bank account, consider buying a new one. While it is not mandatory, a brand new router could improve the security of your smart home.
Secure Wi-Fi
If you purchase a new router, remember to change the password immediately. Routers often have the same login credentials, which makes it easy for cybercriminals to access them remotely and make changes.
While you are at it, change the name of your Wi-Fi network. Apply WPA3 security protocol where available. You can add a VPN on a router too.
