Everything from your refrigerator to your doorbell—and everything in between—is now connected to the internet. It’s a brave new world: smart homes that are easy and efficient—yet also fraught with danger, despite all the cybersecurity precautions. If you have ever wondered how to keep your connected devices safe from any form of threat out there, you are not alone.
Understanding the Risks
With the proliferation of IoT, the modern home is getting connected online as never before. Smart thermostats, voice assistants, and even smart coffee machines are finding space in the house. Nevertheless, every device that connects to the internet opens another door for hackers.
The convenience of being able to turn on your lights or monitor your home from a different continent comes with the challenge of security within those devices. Just as you would carefully consider where to click here to place a bet, it’s equally crucial to be mindful of where you connect and how you secure your smart devices.
Securing Your Smart Home One Step at a Time
The good news is that you don’t need to be a tech expert to protect your smart home. Here are some practical ways you can save your IoT devices from breaches:
- Change default passwords: One of the most effective security measures is changing default passwords on your devices. Many devices in the internet of things world have default credentials that can be really easily guessed, so changing them for every device is crucial.
- Two-factor authentication: Turn on 2FA for a supported IoT device. This will add extra security measures by always asking for another type of authentication before allowing access to the device.
- Keep software updated: Manufacturers release patches addressing any security vulnerabilities on their devices. Enable automatic updates on your end or manually check for firmware updates periodically.
- Use a separate network for IoT devices: Perhaps you can take advantage of setting your Wi-Fi in such a way that your IoT devices will have a different network from your main systems, such as computer and mobile device networks. In this way, a possible attack on the IoT system would not necessarily compromise the entire network.
- Disable unnecessary features: A lot of IoT devices have remote access and similar features that you might not need. These should ideally be turned off—or at least turned on only when required—limiting the window of opportunity for a breach.
- Monitor your network: Invest in a network monitoring tool that keeps track of the various devices connected to your Wi-Fi. This way, you can identify unusual activity that may suggest a security breach.
The Role of Encryption
Use encryption technologies to encrypt every incoming communication to your Smart Home. Ensure that any SmartIoT device communication to or from the cloud is encrypted to keep your device safe. Check whether your devices use encryption, and consider upgrading to devices that do.
Setting up a Virtual Private Network (VPN) is also a good idea when accessing your smart home devices remotely; it is one of the safest ways to shield your internet connection from unwarranted traffic. This makes it hard for a hacker to intercept your data.
Beware of Phishing Attacks
Phishing goes beyond email scams and poses a major security threat to IoT devices. Cyber attackers may try to gain your login credentials or install malware on your account. Be cautious about suspicious requests to click links or download files, even from a trustworthy source.
Here are a few quick tips to avoid phishing.
- Check the email account or the sender’s phone number before clicking any link.
- Be wary of any messages pushing you for actions that are full of bad spelling and wrong grammar.
- Don’t share sensitive information such as passwords, security codes, or personal information over email or a text message.
Your smart home should be an ongoing investment in security. So, as you purchase newer devices or update the old ones with newer versions, don’t forget to reassess your security settings. Make sure to regularly check the security features of all your IoT devices, and be ready for potential vulnerabilities that may be identified.
