The Internet of Things (IoT) enhances the comfort of staying at home, especially in the middle of the health crisis that has affected the whole country for a year already. Even as the smart home industry has grown significantly in the past few years, the threat of hacking has also increased. The hacking of different networks around the world highlighted the importance of securing a smart home network
Aside from invading the privacy of homeowners, hacking smart devices also means people can steal personal information stored in these devices. It may even allow hackers to gain control of these devices and allow burglars to easily enter homes.
Hackers also access smart devices to use them as part of a botnet they’re building for a distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack in the future. To prevent this, it’s important to take steps to prevent hackers from accessing smart home networks.
Consider the Needs
The first thing homeowners can do to prevent hackers from accessing their smart devices is to take into account the devices they need at home. For instance, a video doorbell and smart speaker can increase the comfort level in the home. But homeowners should think if the devices are necessary.
A security camera allows you to have a certain level of protection at home. But if it uploads the video on the internet, it becomes vulnerable to attacks. Similar to the baby monitor takeover, a hacker can also use it to know if anyone’s at home or not.
Homeowners should consider the devices they need to make their lives comfortable. They should weigh it out with the privacy and security they feel if someone took over these devices. It may even lead to extreme situations where a hacker can control a voice assistant and listen to conversations of the people at home.
Protect the Network
The next thing a homeowner should do is to protect the network. Routers normally use a generic password when they are shipped to the buyers. This allows them to easily change the password once they receive the router. This makes it important for homeowners to change the password once they receive the router. They should make sure the password is strong. Homeowners should also change the name of the network to prevent hackers from identifying its model since the default names typically point to specific router models.
Additionally, if the router at home is an old one, it’s best to replace it with the latest models. The new models use the latest security protocols that enhance the security of the network. Additionally, the latest models of routers are also compatible with many smart devices a homeowner can buy.
Using a strong password in the network reduces the risk of someone logging into the network. This is particularly important for large mansions that may use industrial heating systems for their heating needs.
Manage the Passwords
After creating a strong password for the network, homeowners can focus on protecting the devices and services connected to the network. A mobile app typically controls these smart devices and it’s necessary to set up an account for each of these devices. While it is convenient to have the same password for all accounts, homeowners are taking a huge risk when they do this. If hackers breach one account, they’ll have easy access to the other accounts since they’re using the same password. To avoid this, homeowners can use a password generator to create the passwords and a password manager to store them.
For added security, homeowners can enable two-factor authentication. This puts an extra layer of security on the accounts they use. The authentication normally uses a six-digit code that homeowners can receive through a text message. They should use the code to enter the account and use the service. With this, a password alone will not allow a hacker to access the account since they’ll need the six-digit code. A lot of smart devices already have the two-factor authentication feature for additional security from hacking.
Monitor the Network
Homeowners can also monitor their network and check if it has any vulnerabilities. They can also add a device that allows them to see and manage the smart devices connected to the network. These security devices also allow homeowners to monitor the activities of their smart devices at home. If they see something odd, they may want to check it out to ensure no one accessed the smart device without their knowledge. Other security devices also provide an added protection to the network through a host of software features they offer.
As homeowners shift toward using smart devices and the IoT at home, they should make sure that their networks are secure to safeguard their personal information and privacy from hackers.
