In general, smart home technology has arrived – including thermostats which will learn the preferred temperature settings of the family and energy-efficient lighting systems that produce a variety of ambiances. In addition to convenience, home automation systems typically evoke a sense of security, which happens to be especially important when you consider that 90 % of consumers say security is among the major reasons to invest in smart home technology, according to icontrol.
It’s therefore no real shock that homeowners already have started to outfit their abodes with Wi-Fi-enabled cameras and alarm systems. Plus, nearly 1 million homes in North America have a smart lock of some sort, and it doesn’t end there – the global smart lock industry is anticipated to reach 3.6 billion by the year 2019.
With all the growing interest surrounding smart home technology, it’s easy to assume that the products are impervious to security flaws. Unfortunately, that’s not entirely true.
If you’re not familiar with the term, the internet of things (IoT) signifies the growing network of everyday devices and appliances (the coffee maker, slow cooker, HVAC, etc.) which use the internet to interact and store data. And like other online interactions, IoT gadgets are simply just as vulnerable to cyber-attacks and hackers.
Studies have highlighted serious security vulnerabilities in an array of home automation devices. Many gadgets have poor password policies although some aren’t built with sufficient security for their debugging interface, allowing easy access for hackers. With IoT still in its infancy, essentially any smart home device is pretty much exposed to the elements.
Vital methods for keeping the smart home protected
1. Make use of a smart password strategy
Passwords are the first line of defense against cyber-attacks – whether it’s for internet routers, smartphones or home automation applications. For this reason, consumers should make sure their passwords are changed frequently (more than once annually).
Passwords should be long and unpredictable, preferably by using a series of upper and lowercase letters, together with numbers and special characters. Also, never use names, birthdays or addresses (and the ever-popular “password” or “1234567” are totally unthinkable).
In order to guarantee they’re strong and varied, consider using a password generator. Programs such as these can store passwords online (make sure they’re encrypted), allowing users to make each password unique and hard to compromise into without having to worry about losing them.
To maximize password strategies, encourage clients to enable two-step authentication features. It could take a little longer to log in, however the extra time may help deter would-be hackers.
2. Review camera log history
Internet-enabled cameras and “nanny cams” are typically a hacker’s primary point of entry.
In November 2015, over 73,000 smart security cameras were hacked, and their images were unwittingly posted on the internet. The leading issue? Users failed to change their passwords (do not forget that one?).
If tenacious hackers do manage to bypass authentication protocols, consumers should frequently check their camera logs. Many security cameras allow users to go over the history of IP addresses that have accessed the feed.
By regularly reviewing the logs, homeowners can ensure not a soul has infiltrated their smart cameras – whether it’s for spying purposes, leaking footage or both.
3. Use secure Wi-Fi networks
For starters, connected consumers should avoid using public Wi-Fi networks. Home automation’s that are linked to public Wi-Fi allow hackers to procure sensitive data while no one’s the wiser. Only use a secure network or switch to a mobile data service before putting smart home technology to use.
You may also wish to look into the type of encryption that is being utilized by the router. Seeking devices which use Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) could help prevent hackers from discerning signals which are sent between devices and components.
Even when hackers are able to intercepting the signals, they might have trouble decoding them.
In addition, configuring a couple of networks has never been a terrible idea. Segmenting smart home devices into separate networks can prevent a hacker from automatically accessing every device from a single security breach.
4. Select a reputable brand
A company that’s newly tinkering with smart home technology might not be up to the task of addressing security risks. But developers that’ve been around long enough are more apt to understand what makes an IoT product efficient and secure.
They’ve had time to build a reputation around their products, which has likely been vetted by consumers and possibly tested by security firms.
For instance, security intelligence companies Synack and Veracode have tested a variety of smart home products for security flaws, which resulted in several positive suggestions for name-brand smart home features.
It’s crucial that you encourage consumers to concentrate on companies that are as dedicated to the security of their products as they are to their products. Not to mention it never hurts to ask about the security measures the company is taking before making a purchase.
5. Be ready for a potential cyber-attack
Even with quite possibly the most airtight system in place, it would be rash to guarantee that security measures could never be compromised, and it’s important that users are prepared for the possibility.
You should be advised to limit any information that is personal kept in home automation devices to mitigate the harm inflicted by a potential security breach. And as mentioned before, all transferred data should be encrypted.
If a system is hacked, immediately change passwords, contact credit card companies, banks and credit reporting agencies – and document everything. Once the extent of the cyber-attack is determined, file a police report as an official record to help combat identity theft.
The convenience and freedom of IoT also comes along with inherent security risks. Smart home technology is developing at a rapid rate, and it’s projected that the average family in 2022 may have over 500 home automation features, reported by Gartner, a technology research firm.
As the ecosystem of IoT continuously evolves, security is quickly scaling the totem pole for both developers and public authorities. Meanwhile, home buyers should be made aware of potential threats and how to effectively respond to them while they continue to adopt this exciting new technology.