This ensures that your TV does not eavesdrop on you, and that your home appliances do not participate in denial-of-service attacks.
A robot vacuum cleaner is a popular smart device in homes. Adobe Stock / AOP
As smart home technology becomes more common, data security challenges related to devices are also making headlines more often than before. According to the IT consulting company Rakettitieten, the risks should not be exaggerated, but it is worth being aware of them.
In the past, there has been news about, among other things, the possible role of hijacked household appliances in denial of service attacks on Nordea, as well as insults about robot vacuum cleaners spying on drawers and residents.
Information security expert in rocket science Richard Topchii says in the company’s press release that the consumer may not think of all the ways in which smart devices can collect information.
– For example, a robot vacuum cleaner has a camera that helps it move around the apartment, and a smart TV may constantly send information about the user’s viewing habits and listen and record what is being said in the environment. New speakers can have a microphone, which can be used to eavesdrop on their surroundings, Topchii lists.
– Confidential and sensitive data can be at risk if the smart home device manufacturer’s server is hacked and the data is stolen, Topchii continues.
According to rocket science, protecting smart home technology is no rocket science. Listed below are the most important measures to keep the information security of the smart home in order.
- Change the router’s default password to a strong and self-invented one and take care of the router’s updates.
- Keep smart device software updated.
- Don’t turn on features you don’t need. These can include, for example, remote operation over the network, voice control and positioning.
- Enable two-factor authentication if possible.
- Create a separate network for the home’s smart devices so that a possible break-in does not endanger the main network.
- Disconnect from the network smart devices whose information security is a concern. For example, a robot vacuum cleaner can be used without smart features.
- Consider installing security software.
- Remember common sense and do not share usernames, passwords or other sensitive information.