Is Your Smart Home Vulnerable?**
Regularly Update Firmware**
Change Default Device Passwords**
Secure Your Home Router**
Be Cautious with Third-Party Connections**
Having a smart home offers great convenience, but it also introduces new risks. Many smart home devices are accessible via the internet, which allows you to monitor and control your home remotely. However, this also creates potential entry points for hackers.
Is Your Smart Home Vulnerable?
If you’re skeptical about the possibility of your smart home being hacked, consider these real-life examples:
– Mirai Botnet:** Leading up to 2016, hackers infected thousands of home Wi-Fi cameras and routers with dormant malware. When activated, this malware formed a massive botnet that took down major websites like CNN, the Guardian, X (formerly Twitter), and Netflix.
– Baby Monitor Security Flaw:** In February 2018, Forbes reported that 50,000 MiCam baby monitors had a security flaw allowing hackers to intercept traffic between a parent’s phone and the camera, potentially seeing everything the camera sees.
– TRENDnet Webcam Hack:** In 2012, security experts found that TRENDnet’s SecurView cameras were transmitting login credentials in plain text over the internet, enabling hackers to access the cameras and listen through their microphones.
– Samsung SmartThings Vulnerabilities:** In July 2018, Cisco security experts discovered over 20 vulnerabilities in the Samsung SmartThings Hub that could allow hackers to unlock doors, view cameras, disable motion detectors, and control thermostats.
While it might seem harmless if someone can access your smart home devices, this information can help criminals learn your routines and determine the best times to break into your home.
Regularly Update Firmware
Change Default Device Passwords
Many people set up smart home devices and leave the default passwords unchanged. This is a critical mistake. Some devices don’t even have a default password, making them vulnerable to anyone with network access. Change the default admin password immediately after setup and use a unique, complex password.
Secure Your Home Router
Hackers often gain access to smart home devices through unsecured routers. To secure your router:
1. Find the router’s IP address: Open Command Prompt, type `ipconfig`, and note the default gateway IP address.
2. Log into your router using the default credentials (found on the manufacturer’s website if unknown).
3. Change the default admin password to a unique one.
4. Enable the router firewall and set it to medium or high.
5. Disable Port Forwarding under Advanced Settings.
6. Enable Wi-Fi security with a complex, unique password.
Be Cautious with Third-Party Connections
While cloud-based access to smart devices is convenient, it increases the risk of hacking. Use strong passwords for cloud accounts and limit third-party integrations to reputable services like IFTTT or Zapier. Add integrations through the smart device app when possible and ensure the third-party service uses encryption for all data transmissions.
Secure Your Mobile Phone
If hackers can’t access your router or smart devices, they might target your phone. To protect your phone:
– Install apps only from reputable sources like Google Play.
– Avoid rooting your phone.
– Don’t connect to public Wi-Fi networks.
– Install a reliable mobile antivirus app.
Keep Critical Smart Home Devices Offline
For devices critical to home security, like smart locks or garage door openers, consider opting out of cloud-based access. Choose devices that require local network or Bluetooth access with a secure password. This limits the entry points hackers can exploit.
The Importance of Smart Home Security
As more smart home devices become available, hackers will continue to target them. By following these guidelines, you can stay ahead of potential threats and protect your home and family from harm.