×

Warning

JUser: :_load: Unable to load user with ID: 725563

3 Practical Tips to Keep Your Smart Home Safe

Written by Posted On Thursday, 08 February 2018 12:03

The internet of things (IOT) is one of the most important innovations of the past few years. In essence, the term refers to the increasing rate at which devices are able to communicate with one another and trigger specific responses with minimal or even no overt human control, unless you want to direct a specific action.

There have been myriad advances in home setup based on IOT. From automating security processes like external lights or even calling 911, to cooking meals at specific times, smart homes are definitely here to stay. However, with every new innovation comes new risks and you’re probably somewhat cautious, which is completely understandable. Here are a few practical steps you can take to make sure your smart home is secure:

Understand Your Devices’ Capabilities

A thorough study of the features list of your smart devices might reveal surprising things. For instance, smart TVs usually have a microphone that can listen to conversations even when they might not appear to be in use.

This feature is one that hackers would love to exploit, which is why you should be certain to open the settings menu of all your devices and modify the privacy and security settings to levels you’re comfortable with.

Keep Your Security Software Up to Date

It goes without saying that your PC and Smartphone should have security software that can defend against virus and malware attacks, but many people often forget to ensure that the firmware on their routers and other smart devices are of the latest versions.

Hackers are continually looking for loopholes they can exploit to take over your devices and use them for harmful purposes like the botnet ddos attacks that used millions of routers to attack websites, with the owners completely oblivious of what was happening. Conversely, manufacturers are always looking for those same holes so they can block them, which is why they constantly release patches. One of the best ways to stop your home from being hacked is to check regularly or set your devices to update automatically so they’ll not be vulnerable at any point in time.

Secure Your Network

Most people use Wifi for all their smart devices, and while that’s not a bad thing, it can become a big problem if your network is compromised and hackers are able to go through the connection to exploit everything connected to the network.

First, ensure that your router supports firewall protection and turn on Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA2) encryption protocol when setting it up. Don’t forget to change the preset passwords because those are the first ones any hacker is going to try. Leaving them static is going to amount to throwing your virtual doors open for anyone to stroll in.

The second thing you need to do is create segmented networks by setting up multiple network identities. This will make it possible for you to have different networks for your IOT devices, PC and mobile as well as a dedicated one for guests. That way, you can monitor the networks much more effectively and also ensure that even if there’s a problem with one aspect of the network, it’ll be insulated from the others.

Rate this item
(0 votes)

Martina Angel is a writer and real estate agent. She is especially interested in the purchase, ownership, management, rental and sale of real estate for profit. She also volunteers for local water conservation charities in her free time.

Agent Resource

Limited time offer - 50% off - click here

Realty Times

From buying and selling advice for consumers to money-making tips for Agents, our content, updated daily, has made Realty Times® a must-read, and see, for anyone involved in Real Estate.