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How to Protect Smart Devices from Being Exploited by Hackers

How to Protect Smart Devices from Being Exploited by Hackers

By Tamás Ő.Tamás Ő. Verified by Sander D.Sander D. Last updated: August 4, 2024 (0)

Those who are following the latest tech trends have probably heard about the latest advancements on the field of smart technology and home automation. Security systems are now all connected to the internet so you can manage them through your smartphone, and with the integration of voice control such as Siri or Alexa, you won’t even need to use your hands to do so. Unfortunately, not everything is sunshine and happiness in the land of “All Connected”. Nothing can be fully secured on the internet, a fact that has been proven over and over again in recent months and years. In fact, every connected device can be a victim of hackers. By leaving your precious devices unprotected you are putting your and your family’s private information at risk. It’s also a possibility that attackers take control of some of your smart home alarms, disabling them to expose you to criminals. But with a responsible approach you can avoid such sorry fate.

Known cases of smart technology exploits

Most people believe that all those high-tech gadgets are protected by top-notch algorithms and encryption, and are literally impenetrable by attacks from the outside. However, the exact opposite is true. Recent studies pointed out that cellular home security systems often rely on outdated technology, while smart devices (intelligent thermostats, smart lighting etc.) are way behind the required level when it comes to encryption. And without ciphering the connection, hackers can just waltz in (virtually), gain easy access to any of the devices, and start causing ruckus. In more than one occasion, malicious individuals took over an unprotected home’s smart thermostat and generated a horrific bill by messing with the energy consumption. There were also reports on a hacker who invaded a family’s baby phone through a vulnerable router, and whispered disturbing things while the parents were sleeping. It’s also possible that the tech-jockey is in cahoots with the thieves, cracking up your defenses and disarming the security from afar, so the rest of the gang can leisurely loot the property.

VPNs & strong passwords are your best weapons

As we mentioned earlier, there are ways to protect yourself from said horrors. Using strong passwords is a good start. Make it a combination of exotic characters and numbers, and change it every now and then. Also, eliminate “guest networks” from your Wi-Fi. As for your smart devices, they cannot be protected individually, but if they are connected to the router, then you can extend a trusted safety net by arming the router with a VPN. Virtual Private Networks are capable of encrypting your connection by cyphering the data stream with an unbreakable code. FlashRouters is known to offer routers that are already fitted with VPN software, and you just need to opt for the service at the corresponding VPN company. But you can do the same manually of course, just make sure to go with a VPN service that offers quality VPN router support.


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