{"id":9470,"date":"2017-06-12T16:01:21","date_gmt":"2017-06-12T23:01:21","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.hellotech.com\/?p=9470"},"modified":"2021-06-12T08:15:23","modified_gmt":"2021-06-12T15:15:23","slug":"smart-home-cyberattacks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hellotech.com\/blog\/smart-home-cyberattacks","title":{"rendered":"5 Tips Experts Recommend to Keep Your Smart Home and IoT Devices Safe from Cyberattacks"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Thanks to the rapid rise of smart devices on the market, we\u2019re building smart homes sooner than expected. This exciting prospect has a major caveat: most of today\u2019s smart gadgets offer little to no resistance against cyberattacks. With that crucial flaw in mind, how can we protect our homes from hacking and snooping?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Change the default passwords and usernames your home network router uses out of the box<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

All hackers need to do is scour online forums to find the default username and password for your router. That\u2019s the sad reality. Err on the side of caution by switching the default one to a personalized passphrase once you\u2019ve set up the device. The same principle applies to all your smart appliances, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not sure how to change passwords on your router? Check with the manufacturer or the user manual as they\u2019ll likely provide instructions on how to change the default passcode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friendly Tip:<\/em> <\/strong>Need help making a formidable password? We\u2019ve got this handy tip on creating strong passwords<\/a> (without help from a password manager).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Create separate networks for every smart device registered on your home network<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Cyber security firms often advise homeowners to keep smart devices isolated from the computers on the main home network. In other words, build an exclusive network for your computer, printer, and associated peripheral devices and have a separate SSID for additional household devices (e.g. smart TVs, gaming consoles, etc.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By creating this unique setup, hackers can be limited to exploiting only one network in case they successfully infiltrate a device using malware. Your other smart devices and computers are essentially safeguarded even after an initial security breach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friendly Tip:<\/em><\/strong> Research whether your router allows you to create a second network for guest access. Get the confirmation through the model\u2019s manual or the manufacturer\u2019s website. If it comes with such a feature, read up on how to enable a guest network<\/a> on your home\u2019s wireless connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Install a security appliance at home<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\"5<\/span>
Using data encryption, secure DNS, automatic security updates and more, the Norton Core ensures your home network is safe. It doubles as a home decor, too.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In case you missed the news, networking hardware with enhanced security measures are on the rise. They\u2019re designed with cyber security in mind and having one at home protects all your connected devices. Two of the most popular options you\u2019ll find on the market are Norton Core<\/a> and Bitdefender Box 2<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friendly Tip:<\/em><\/strong> Don\u2019t hesitate to download antivirus programs to your smartphones, tablets, and computers, too. Don\u2019t just download any cyber security suite, though. We recommend you use those apps vetted by independent security professionals like AV-TEST<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disable your router\u2019s or device\u2019s Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) feature<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Although this feature\u2019s primary purpose is to make it easier for devices to connect to a network, the Department of Homeland Security<\/a> recommends you disable it. UPnP<\/a>, as it turns out, subsequently makes it easier for malware to bypass your firewall and infiltrate your wireless network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friendly Tip:<\/em><\/strong> To turn off the feature, you\u2019ll have to check with the router and device manufacturer. They should be able to provide you with the necessary steps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have the latest security patches\/firmware updates installed on your smart product or router<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"5<\/span>
It’s cool controlling every aspect of your home with a touch of a button. It comes with one, little nuisance: software maintenance. (Image credit: Elettro)<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re all guilty of disregarding those phone prompts telling us to complete a software update. We make our devices more vulnerable to dangerous malware that way, though.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This dilemma is emphasized even more on most smart home devices. You see, most of these smart products don\u2019t update automatically so you\u2019ll have to open its partner app to check for firmware updates. Yes, you need to do this for each one of your smart lights, smart refrigerators, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Friendly Tip:<\/em><\/strong> We\u2019ve seen smart hubs that update its firmware automatically and these will prove to be handy investments for anyone wanting to build a more secure smart home. Other smart products also have a similar feature but, they may have it disabled by default.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chances are, most of us have one smart device sitting in our home right now.  Even if you don\u2019t (and let\u2019s say you\u2019ve got zero plans to create a smarter home<\/a>), you probably have a smartphone\/tablet\/laptop sporting Internet connectivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Either way, we all have an open window where cyber felons can launch an offensive against us and our gadgets. Things aren\u2019t going to look pretty when that happens\u2014trust us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the flip side of the coin, you can choose to ignore these recommendations. You\u2019re within your rights to refrain from fortifying your smart devices\u2019 or smart appliance\u2019s security, after all. But if there\u2019s anything the major cyberattack<\/a> last fall taught us, it\u2019s this: the consequences of inaction will be dire.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For a more secure home and a safer Internet, do your part and keep all your connected devices protected from privacy intruders and hackers. It never hurts to be extra cautious in this case.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Thanks to the rapid rise of smart devices on the market, we\u2019re building smart homes sooner than expected. This exciting prospect has a major caveat: most of today\u2019s smart gadgets offer little to no resistance against cyberattacks. With that crucial flaw in mind, how can we protect our homes from hacking and snooping? Change the default passwords and usernames your home network router uses out of the box All hackers need to do is scour online forums to find the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9480,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[17579,17593],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9470","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-smart-home","category-staying-safe"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n5 Tips Experts Recommend to Keep Your Smart Home and IoT Devices Safe from Cyberattacks - The Plug - HelloTech<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Though there is a rapid rise in smart device purchases, most of today\u2019s smart gadgets offer little protection from cyberattacks.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.hellotech.com\/blog\/smart-home-cyberattacks\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"5 Tips Experts Recommend to Keep Your Smart Home and IoT Devices Safe from Cyberattacks - The Plug - HelloTech\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Thanks to the rapid rise of smart devices on the market, we\u2019re building smart homes sooner than expected. 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