Did you know these 4 smart home devices could be hacked?

Technology these days is getting smarter and smarter as more of us add smart devices to our homes, but unfortunately, hackers are getting smarter too. This leaves some of these devices vulnerable to attack from outside.

Someone who knows a thing or two about smart technology is Nick Booth, Director at ISET Solutions, specialists in home technology, provides his insight into why it is important to understand what can be hacked and what measures you can take to protect yourself from it.

With 150 million Amazon and Google smart speakers being sold in just the last four years, it is clear that soon most homes will have one smart device or another. In fact, it is predicted that as many as 34 billion smart devices could be connected worldwide by 2025.

This includes televisions, printers, media boxes and security cameras as well as games consoles, tablets and smart speakers. That is a lot of equipment that has the potential to be hacked, so staying ahead of the game is important to keep those who wish us harm at bay.

1. Internet router

Your Wi-Fi router is responsible for keeping your whole home connected, so it is logical that it is the first thing that needs to be protected. Start by changing your router’s name in order to disguise the make and model, as this makes it easier for hackers find default login details.

Make it something that is not associated with you or your address to make it as difficult as possible for anyone to access it. You will also need to go through the same process with your password, which should be a complex mix of letters, numbers and symbols so that it cannot be guessed and make sure you do this for any connected devices too. You should also look at your encryption levels and opt for the highest that your router allows.

2. CCTV Cameras

Your CCTV is there to protect you and your home, which makes it imperative that it cannot be hacked. These can be controlled either to help troublemakers commit a crime or to spy on you in your own home, but there are measures that you can take to stop this from happening.

Make sure that you keep your equipment updated and buy the very best that you can. These systems, when properly installed, are much less vulnerable to attack. To keep these systems functioning at their very best, you will need to regularly update your firmware to ensure that software bugs are fixed, and you have all the latest security. Once again, passwords are essential, so keep them unique, complicated and steer away from anything personal.

3. Computing equipment

Whether it is your personal computer, your tablet or your smartphone, they can all be accessed surprisingly easily. Making sure access to each device is as secure as possible is of paramount importance. Keep passwords and pin codes unique to each device and never share them with anyone. Many devices offer a range of biometric security that require your fingerprint or face scanners in order to log you in.

It is also possible to add two-factor authentication which will need you to access another device which will either give you a permission question or send you a code to enter.

4. Smart speakers

We are increasingly reliant on smart speakers, but they can also be hacked. Protect them through the security measures on your router, as well as your access permissions. There are parental control options that can limit what your children are able to do, and the apps that are linked to these devices often give you a range of additional security measures.

These smart devices are becoming essential to our lives, so we need to make sure we understand what their weaknesses are in order to protect ourselves.