Some of the major advantages to adopting smart technology for your home are that it can make your home safer and you can monitor it while you’re away. Each year, there are amazing new smart products being brought to the market. Here’s a look at smart technology that can add security, comfort, and savings to your smart home.
How Smart Technology Is Developing
Today, homes and buildings all over the world contain smart devices with sensors that communicate with data collection systems. Manufacturers of smart technology are increasingly encouraging homeowners to invest in multiple smart solutions that form a smart ecosystem. Large producers of smart devices such as Samsung, GE, and Trane are working on campaigns to promote safety, security and interoperability of smart equipment.
Homeowners can save money by monitoring usage of energy and water in real-time and conserving consumption. By knowing your consumption of kilowatt-hours in real-time, you can plan your energy budget more accurately and decisively.
Security Issues Exist with Smart Technology
The more your home is connected to the internet, the more you need to be concerned about using the most robust cybersecurity available. The technology is constantly improving, but so are the skills of cybercriminals. It’s possible for a hacker to hack into your home network if you don’t use sufficient cybersecurity. The Home Connectivity Alliance is currently working to improve security for connected smart home environments.
Congress members are looking into data privacy and security matters, although existing laws haven’t slowed down the most advanced cybercriminals. Manufacturers have been sued over privacy breaches relating to their data transmission devices.
So, it’s important to remember that anyone using internet-based technology can get hacked even with the strongest protection. It’s still important to make cybersecurity a priority so that you’re not making hacking easier for cybercriminals.
Hear strategies from Smart Home tech experts for choosing and implementing smart home technology. Watch the replay of our High Tech Homes webinar to explore new possibilities for home cybersecurity and automation.
Best Ways to Improve Smart Home Security
- Protect your privacy with a VPN – A virtual private network on your router adds a layer of privacy to your home connectivity. A reputable VPN will protect your connection with encryption. Using a VPN on your router will keep your smart TV viewing and other activity private.
- Use strong passwords for Wi-Fi network access – Weak or default passwords are equivalent to leaving the key in your ignition with the car door unlocked. Hackers prey upon weak easy-to-crack passwords, which is why it’s imperative to use the most complex and unconventional passwords as possible. Strong passwords don’t have easy-to-read words or number patterns in them, nor are they duplicated for multiple accounts.
- Keep IoT devices separate from computers – It’s best to isolate IoT devices from your network that provides access to data for desktops and mobile devices. You’ll be able to protect sensitive data transmitted by sensors. One way to separate the networks is to create a secondary guest network on your router and dedicate it to your smart devices.
- Customize privacy settings on devices – Since manufacturer defaults on privacy settings don’t necessarily work for everyone, it’s important to customize privacy settings for each smart device. Disable features you don’t need, such as cameras and microphones.
- Investigate smart products before buying – Reading product reviews of smart devices before a purchase can go a long way in choosing the right technology. Find out about homeowners in your situation and which smart products have made their lives better. It helps to research the company’s background and learn if it has had any major breaches. You should also read the manufacturer’s privacy policy before buying the item to ensure you understand the level of privacy the firm provides. It’s further helpful to learn which smart devices are compatible with each other.
- Learn what type of data is transmitted – Smart devices are capable of constantly sending information back to the manufacturer, so it’s important to know before you buy a device how the data is used by the manufacturer. Keep in mind this concern applies to all types of smart appliances, from coffee makers to televisions, etc. Be aware that some IoT devices allow you to opt out of data collection or delete collected data.
- Update your security software – It’s essential to update your security software on a regular basis so that your system can overcome vulnerabilities. Turning on automatic software updates will help keep your software current.
- Use encryption on your router – Since your router is the hub of all your smart home devices, it’s important that it’s well protected with an encryption method such as WPA2. Encryption is one of the strongest defenses against network spies.
- Adopt a multi-layered security strategy – While no system is bulletproof against cybercriminals, systems that are least likely to be penetrated encompass multiple layers of security. Antivirus software is one layer and alone doesn’t offer strong protection. But you can strengthen your smart home infrastructure by adding several other security layers, such as multi-factor authentication and 24/7 data monitoring.
- Monitor and secure your network – Make sure to secure your home wifi connection. Keep track of the number of devices connected to your home network. Don’t give access to some visitors you don’t know. The more people who have access to your network, the higher the risk of your data being compromised.
Conclusion
These days, you can improve the quality of your home tremendously simply by investing in smart technology. It helps to work with experienced experts who can install and maintain the right smart home security solutions for you.