Isolating your smart home network from your other networks is the first step in addressing home security. It’s relatively easy to do this by setting up guest networks for the IoT devices in your home. For instance, your refrigerator can still be hacked to make it part of a botnet that mines cryptocurrencies or sends spam. However, since it’s on its own network, it cannot access your bank account or emails.
The second step is ensuring that your network’s access, control, and delivery services are secure. These may include your internet router, smart speakers, smartphone, and computer. If your smartphone is stolen or hacked, it may compromise the entire home security system, which is why your top priority should be securing it by purchasing security for iOS devices or Android security.
The next step after securing your networks and ensuring that none of your devices can control the network or access your data, the next step is securing the individual devices. Here are some effective tips for doing that:
Use your smartphone’s screen lock to make sure that nobody can access it in your absence.
Make sure that all smartphones and computers are password protected. Only use strong passwords that cannot be easily cracked and avoid using passwords that anybody can easily guess (e.g., your name or birthday).
If your current router does not offer the best security features, consider replacing it with one that does.
Change the default username and password on your router. If you change the name, hackers will have difficulty guessing the network or device you are using. Create a secure network using WPA authentication.
Change the default passwords on your other devices. If you leave a default password on your device, anybody who owns the same device can gain access. This is almost as bad as not having a password at all.
Increase your security significantly by changing your passwords every six months.
Make sure that your main computer account isn’t at a root or administrator level. If a hacker finds a way in, this can help limit what they can do to the system because they will not have administrator privileges.
Always run updates and security patches and keep your software updated too. Outdated software may have vulnerabilities that can be easily exploited by hackers.
Use strong security software on your smartphone and computers to prevent malware installation or virus infection. You should consider getting Kaspersky’s Anti-Virus software or perhaps even the Total Security package that provides a comprehensive cybersecurity solution for smart buildings.
Use firewalls on your routers as well as on any computers. Keep in mind that routers typically have a built-in firewall in their hardware, but the user has to first enable it.
Check the permissions for apps running on your devices. If anything asks for permission to edit the settings on your router should be regarded as a possible security threat.
Consider which of your devices really have to be connected. If you don’t use the connected functionalities of your oven or coffee maker, for instance, consider using the device offline.
If you have any voice activated devices such as smart speakers, change the alert word from “Hey Alexa” or “OK Google” to something known only to you and your family. That way, an intruder will be unable to use your system.
Be cautious of cloud storage services for devices. Because a cloud connection is required for uploading and downloading, outsiders may hack into that connection and gain access to your network. If you plan to use cloud technology, you should take the right measures to secure your privacy and data.
Prior to buying a new device, ensure that you have adequate information about the security protection it offers. Find out whether regular firmware updates are provided by the manufacturer. 6 months is a long time when it comes to the Internet of Things, and if you are buying a device you expect to last a decade or longer, you need to ensure that you’re protected against emerging threats.
Buy smart home devices from reputable suppliers such as Amazon, Google, LG, or Samsung.
Keep your devices updated, either by doing so manually or using automatic updates. This may involve checking the manufacturer’s website for the updates and linking the device to a computer so that it can be updated. Hackers are always finding new ways to compromise IoT devices. Fortunately, security patches can help protect you against any emerging threats.
Examine the privacy policy on a device before making the purchase. How does the manufacturer plan to use your personal data? What data will the device have access to? If you don’t plan to use voice activation on a device, you should consider turning off the microphone so that other conversations aren’t picked up and transmitted.
Turn off Universal Plug & Play (UPnP): Smart devices usually have this feature that allows them to find other smart devices and automatically connect to them. UPnP protocols, however, are vulnerable to outside attack, allowing criminals to gain control of multiple devices after hacking just a single device.
Keep in mind that every additional device is an added opportunity to gain access to your network. You need to decide for each gadget whether the increased functionality or convenience it offers is actually worth the increase in the risk.
Even if you follow all the smart home security tips above, you still run a risk if you log on to public Wi-Fi with your phone or laptop. If you don’t require authentication to get into a network, neither will the hackers. If you use public Wi-Fi regularly, learn how to use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to protect your smart home and privacy.
