Smart home devices make life easier by letting you control and automate things like lighting, heating, water usage, and security. However, because these devices are connected to the internet, they can be vulnerable to cyber-attacks, which could put your personal data and safety at risk.
If you think that having your home camera or smart thermostat hacked sounds like something out of a movie, think again. In 2019, a homeowner’s Google Nest cameras and thermostats were hacked due to a compromised password. And this isn’t an isolated incident — some reports show that smart home devices face over 12,000 hacking attempts each week!
Fortunately, there are several steps you can take to protect your smart home from hackers without sacrificing the convenience these devices offer. Here’s what you can do:
- Secure Your Wi-Fi Most routers come with generic default passwords, or worse, no password at all. If you don’t change this, hackers can easily break into your home network and access any connected smart devices, potentially spying on you or stealing valuable information.
To prevent this, set a strong password and use the most secure protocols available, like WPA2 or WPA3. Avoid passwords that use personal information or simple patterns. Changing your network name (SSID) can also make it harder for hackers to find and target your Wi-Fi.
- Keep Your Smart Devices Updated Always make sure to install software and firmware updates on your smart devices as soon as they’re available. Outdated software often has security vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. Updates usually contain patches that fix these issues and keep your devices secure.
To make things easier, set up automatic updates where possible. Some devices might need manual updates, so it’s a good idea to set reminders to check for updates regularly.
- Give Each Device a Unique Password It’s tempting to use the same password for all your devices, but that’s a major security risk. Most smart home devices require you to set up accounts, and if hackers get hold of one password, they could potentially access all of your devices.
Use different, strong passwords for each device and account, and make it a habit to change them every six months. A password manager can help generate and store complex passwords to make this process easier.
- Separate Your Network The FBI suggests keeping your more sensitive data separate from your smart home devices. For example, if a hacker gains access to something seemingly harmless, like your smart fridge, they could use it as a gateway to hack other more critical devices like your phone or laptop.
To avoid this, create a guest network on your router for your smart home devices. This way, even if one device is compromised, the malware won’t spread to everything on your main network.
- Enable Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Adding multi-factor authentication (MFA) is another great way to secure your devices. MFA requires you to provide an additional form of identification beyond just a password. Even if a hacker manages to get your password, they won’t be able to log in without the second form of verification.
MFA options include facial recognition, fingerprints, or an authenticator app that generates a unique code. Many smart home systems, like Ring, Google Nest, and Amazon devices, support MFA.
- Add a VPN A virtual private network (VPN) can help protect your smart home devices from hackers. You can either use a VPN on individual devices, like your TV or laptop, or set it up directly on your router to secure all the devices on your network.
A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it much harder for hackers to track your online activity or steal your data. Even if they manage to intercept your data, it will be encrypted and unreadable.
Conclusion As a homeowner, it’s your responsibility to ensure the safety of your smart home. Stay informed about potential cybersecurity threats and take proactive steps to secure your network and devices. By following these tips, you can enjoy the convenience of a smart home while making it much harder for hackers to target your system.
