Securing the Smart Home

As the world of the Internet of things (IoT) and more homes embrace Smart Home technologies, it is obvious that security will become a growing concern, and even a growing issue if left to manage itself. When a home is connected to the internet it can become a target for hackers.

So, the question is, as always, what can occupants of a Smart Home do to protect themselves against the unwanted attentions of potential hackers?

• Stick to reputable brands: The Smart Home is an emerging market place, and companies new to the market (or who are just dabbling with the market) may not provide as secure a product set as those who are more established. That is not to say that innovation is not good for a growing technology trend, but consumers’ must take care to evaluate their options.

• Ensure that any updates are regularly applied: Like all things IT, as and when any vulnerabilities are identified, providers of equipment work quickly to build in protection against that vulnerability. Ensuring your equipment’s software and/or firmware are always kept up to date will protect you against those known security risks.

• Always change the default password settings: Many people stick with the default passwords on devices. This is a major flaw, as all it takes for the hacker to gain access to your devices, and then you home, is to guess what those devices are, and then they are in.

• Always use a strong password: A strong password is one that cannot be easily guessed, or hacked by a brute force attack in an acceptable amount of time. That means no words likely to be found in a dictionary, no common names, no dates of birth, and nothing too short.

• Ensure you router is secure: After all your router is the gateway to your network. A poorly configured router makes it so much easier for cyber criminals to gain access to your devices. Also note, the above recommendations on passwords, equally apply to the router.

• Take professional advice: Finally, if you are going to dive in to the world of the Smart Home, consider taking professional advice. Companies who specialise in the designing and installation of Smart Home systems are more likely to be aware of the risks than the every-day member of the public. Plus, they may even surprise you of what you can achieve on your budget.

If you want to find out more about Smart Homes, Home Automation, or even the security risks around the various technology sets, feel free to get in touch with us here at VGS media.

web: media.vgs.global