Security threats are everywhere nowadays, with many different ways for hackers to access people’s online information and use it for all kinds of wrongdoings. And for those who think this only happens outdoors, we’re sorry to say that you’re very mistaken. In fact, the natural evolution of technology over the years has allowed for the development of so-called smart homes, which in turn changed the way we live and interact with things.
The Internet of Things is a growing menace not only to our own privacy but to our security as well, and that lead to experts stating the vulnerability that comes with all these connected devices. However, there are countermeasures that everyone can adopt to make the comfort of smart homes and all associated devices much safer.
The concept behind smart homes is that everything is connected to the internet, from simple thermostats that allow us to regulate a room’s temperature using nothing but voice commands, to window shades and – believe it or not – even the lock on the front door. This quickly becomes an alarming problem, and more so if we consider that on top of these devices people are also getting more and more smart TVs, wireless speakers and other devices that also rely on internet connections.
Even baby monitors and kids’ toys are becoming smarter every day, and because they are often launched onto the market with poor security protection, they can easily be hacked to reveal more than parents would certainly be happy with.
But there are plenty of ways for wrongdoers to virtually break in your home. Security cameras, for instance, are usually placed indoors and can be controlled remotely using a mobile app and, as a result, have become a favorite target for hackers alongside the usual targets like any computers or tablets that you may have. Not only this is an invasion of people’s privacy but it can also end up being used as a means of blackmail, as proven in the past when certain cases ended up with intimate photos and videos families being published on image-board websites.
While the most practical measures for security cameras would be to have them facing the wall and disable the microphone when at home, just like all other internet connected devices composing your smart home they are most likely protected by a password. So, the first step would be to create a strong, unbreakable password, or use a specialized password manager for such a purpose. But that may not be enough, and so one of the best investments is a secure Wi-Fi router. There are already some good offers on the market that have been created specifically for smart home protection, but a VPN router is crucial, too, since it will encrypt every other internet-enabled device like your smart TVs, computers, wireless speakers and more.
But while all these options will help give you a certain peace of mind, it’s important to approach such technology with caution. Smart homes may well be designed to make life easier and more enjoyable but the exact opposite can end up being the case. Instead of rushing out to buy the latest tech trend, it is advisable to spend some time learning as much about it as possible to avoid any unpleasant surprises that may have to be dealt with later.
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