You may not know it, but hackers find smart home devices very appealing. In fact, it’s good to know that gadgets meant to help you manage small daily chores around the house are getting more and more assaulted. This is why it is important to take precautions! Here are some tips to help you stay safe.
A recent report found that internet-connected security cameras account for almost half of IoT devices compromised by hackers. This is quite worrying, especially considering that these devices are used by individuals at home, but also by companies in their workplace.
But there is more bad news, because the same study by information security company SAM Seamless Network found that as many as 47% of security cameras installed on home networks are easily vulnerable, especially for home users. inexpensive devices.
READ ALSO: 7 tips to protect your Wi-Fi router from cyber attacks
Many of them are known for their loopholes and vulnerabilities that allow attackers to access or control them remotely, while others are simply protected by rather weak passwords. However, no matter how weak a device is, a vulnerable product can potentially offer hackers an easier way to access all other devices connected to the same network, like a backdoor!
After this spooky introduction, you might feel a little worried, but we’re here to help you with these tips to make your smart home safer!
Use a VPN on your router
The fastest way to add more security to all of your devices, without having to configure each one individually, is to install a virtual private network (VPN) service on your router.
VPNs add a level of end-to-end encryption to all data sent and received through them. This means that everything transmitted or received through your network, from sent emails to your webcam recordings, will be hidden from prying eyes and accessible only to you and the recipients.
For devices where the manufacturer does not give you the option to change the password or add additional security measures, protecting your entire home internet connection from the router is incredibly simple, but also extremely. effective.
Change your password as much as possible
A common problem with smart home devices is that users cannot change default access details, although in some cases it is absolutely necessary. In short, when you are setting up a new device, if you can change the username and password to access your device’s control panel, you should!
If your device uses the same credentials as any other product of the same brand and model, it is much easier for hackers to find the manual online and gain access to that device. Use a complex password that is easy to remember. We recommend the use of upper and lower case letters, letters and symbols.
We know that it can be difficult to remember many such passwords. That is why we also recommend the use of password managers.
Disable any features you don’t use
The final tip we offer is to make sure you turn off features and permissions that aren’t absolutely necessary. A key example could be remote access: if you don’t need to access a particular device when you’re on the go, turn that feature off.
You should know that there is no legislation or standard that could oblige manufacturers to inform their users about the safety of their smart home devices, but it is hoped that the situation will change in the future in order to offer users a higher level of home security.
For now, it’s up to you to make sure that your smart devices are as secure as possible.
Have you ever had a hacker attacking your smart home? Let us know in the comments!
