Is Your Smart Home Secure? Tips for Protecting Your Connected Devices

As more people embrace smart home technology, the convenience of controlling everything from lights to security cameras via the internet comes with a critical concern: security. Smart home devices, while incredibly useful, can also be vulnerable to hacking and privacy breaches if not properly secured. Ensuring the security of your connected devices is essential to protecting your data and keeping your home safe from potential cyber threats.

In this article, we’ll explore the key steps you can take to secure your smart home and safeguard your connected devices from potential vulnerabilities.

1. Secure Your Home Network

The foundation of smart home security starts with securing your Wi-Fi network, which serves as the gateway through which all your devices communicate.

Change the Default Router Settings

When you first set up your home router, it comes with a default username and password. These default credentials are often easy for hackers to find, as they are common across many routers. The first step in securing your network is to change both the default username and password to something unique and hard to guess.

• Tips: Create a strong, complex password using a mix of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. Avoid using easily guessable information like your name, address, or birthdate.

Enable WPA3 Encryption

Most routers come with encryption options to protect the data transmitted between your devices and the router. For the best security, ensure that your router is using WPA3 encryption, the latest standard. If your router doesn’t support WPA3, at least enable WPA2, which is the next best option.

• Tips: You can enable WPA3 encryption through your router’s settings. If your router is older and doesn’t support this encryption, consider upgrading to a newer model.

Create a Guest Network

Many routers allow you to create a separate guest network for visitors. This feature isolates your primary network, keeping your smart home devices and personal data separate from guests’ devices. It’s also useful for keeping IoT devices on a different network from your main devices, which reduces the risk if one is compromised.

• Tips: Set up a guest network and use it for devices like smart speakers or smart TVs that don’t need access to sensitive personal data. This adds an extra layer of protection for your primary network.

2. Use Strong, Unique Passwords for Each Device

Just like your home network, every smart home device you install will come with default credentials, often the same across all units of that device. Hackers know these default passwords, so it’s critical to change them as soon as you set up the device.

Create Unique Passwords for Every Device

Each of your smart home devices—whether it’s a smart light bulb, thermostat, or camera—should have a unique password. Using the same password across multiple devices makes it easier for hackers to gain access to all of them once they crack one.

• Tips: Use a password manager to generate and store complex, unique passwords for each device. This will save you the trouble of remembering multiple strong passwords.

Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

If your smart home devices or apps offer two-factor authentication (2FA), enable it. 2FA adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification, such as a text message or authentication app, in addition to your password.

• Tips: Use an authenticator app like Google Authenticator or Authy for 2FA, as it’s more secure than receiving codes via SMS.

3. Keep Device Firmware and Apps Up-to-Date

Manufacturers regularly release firmware updates for their devices to fix security vulnerabilities and improve performance. Keeping your smart home devices up-to-date is crucial for ensuring they remain secure.

Enable Automatic Updates

Whenever possible, enable automatic updates for your smart home devices. This ensures that the devices are always running the latest version of the firmware with the most up-to-date security patches.

• Tips: Check your device’s settings for the option to enable automatic updates. If this feature isn’t available, make a habit of manually checking for updates on a regular basis.

Update Apps and Mobile Software

In addition to updating the devices themselves, make sure the mobile apps you use to control your smart home devices are also updated. App updates often include security fixes that protect against potential vulnerabilities.

• Tips: Set your smartphone to automatically update apps or regularly check for updates in the app store to ensure you’re using the latest versions.

4. Disable Unused Features

Many smart home devices come with a wide range of features, not all of which are necessary for your day-to-day use. Leaving unused features active can increase the risk of exploitation.

Turn Off Remote Access When Not Needed

Some smart home devices, such as cameras or smart locks, allow for remote access, which is useful when you’re away from home. However, if you don’t frequently use remote access, it’s safer to disable this feature to reduce the chances of unauthorized access.

• Tips: Review your device settings and disable features like remote access or voice control if you don’t regularly use them.

Limit Voice Assistant Permissions

If you use a voice assistant like Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant, review the permissions you’ve granted to various apps and devices. Limit access to only the devices and services you truly need, and regularly audit your smart assistant’s skills and integrations.

• Tips: Go through your voice assistant’s settings and disable or delete any skills, integrations, or permissions that are unnecessary or potentially risky.

5. Monitor Your Devices for Unusual Activity

Keeping an eye on your devices and network for unusual activity can help you catch potential security breaches early.

Set Up Activity Alerts

Many smart home devices allow you to receive notifications or alerts when something unusual happens, such as a smart lock being accessed at an odd time or a camera detecting unexpected motion. Set up these alerts so you’re immediately informed if anything out of the ordinary occurs.

• Tips: Use apps that provide activity logs for your devices, such as those from Ring, Nest, or Arlo. This will give you a record of when and how each device has been accessed.

Check for Unfamiliar Devices

Your router’s app or interface often provides a list of all the devices connected to your home network. Regularly check this list to ensure that only familiar devices are connected. If you notice any unfamiliar devices, it could be a sign that your network has been compromised.

• Tips: Use tools like Fing or NetSpot to scan your Wi-Fi network and monitor connected devices.

6. Use a VPN for Remote Access

If you need to access your smart home devices while away from home, consider using a Virtual Private Network (VPN). A VPN encrypts your internet connection, adding an extra layer of security when accessing your home network remotely.

Benefits of Using a VPN

A VPN hides your IP address and encrypts the data transmitted between your device and the internet, making it much harder for hackers to intercept your connection or gain access to your smart home devices.

• Tips: Use a reputable VPN service when accessing your smart home devices from public Wi-Fi or unsecured networks to ensure your data remains protected.

7. Protect Your Smart Cameras

Smart cameras, while providing excellent security for your home, can also become a privacy risk if hacked. Protecting these devices from unauthorized access is crucial for maintaining your privacy.

Use Strong Passwords and 2FA

As with other smart devices, always use strong, unique passwords and enable two-factor authentication for your cameras. This prevents unauthorized users from accessing your video feeds.

Turn Off Cameras When Not in Use

If you’re concerned about privacy, turn off your smart cameras when they’re not needed, especially indoor cameras. Some devices allow you to schedule automatic shutdowns during specific times, ensuring that they only record when necessary.

• Tips: Set a routine for when your cameras should be active, such as during nighttime or when you’re away, and disable them when you’re home.

8. Consider Smart Device Privacy Settings

Every smart home device has its own privacy settings, and adjusting them can enhance your security.

Limit Data Collection

Some smart devices collect data to improve functionality or provide personalized experiences. However, you can often limit the amount of data that’s collected. Review your device’s privacy settings and disable unnecessary data collection.

• Tips: Review the privacy policies of your devices to understand what data is being collected, and opt-out of any unnecessary data sharing.

Use Secure Cloud Storage

If your smart devices store data in the cloud, such as security footage or home automation logs, ensure that this data is stored securely. Opt for devices that use encrypted cloud storage solutions and allow you to manage access to your data.

Conclusion

As smart homes become more integrated into our daily lives, ensuring the security of connected devices is paramount. By taking proactive steps to secure your home network, update device settings, and monitor activity, you can protect your smart home from potential cyber threats. Following these best practices will help you maintain control over your devices and keep your home safe, secure, and private in the connected world.