The digital era rarely ceases to amaze us. Many of us have been alive long enough to see house-sized computers shrink down to compact-sized laptops. Now, we’re seeing our homes turning into IoT systems, communicating with us, and doing daily tasks!
But these breakthrough technologies lead to a natural question: are smart homes safe? When you’re in front of a revolutionary invention like smart homes, it’s only natural that your enthusiasm can outpace your better judgment. And that’s what we’re here for today.
Are Smart Homes Secure?
Smart homes are safe to an extent. But like anything connected to the internet, there’s the possibility of hacks and security breaches. Additionally, some smart lock systems make your home even more vulnerable to these threats by letting the doors open on their own for couriers.
If all weak points strike simultaneously, a pro hacker may be able to breach the smart lock. Or, your home may be exposed to a cyberattack, stealing private information but not necessarily breaking into the house.
How Do Smart Homes Work?
In order to understand the associated risks with smart homes, you need to learn first how they work. The devices in smart homes contain tiny computers that can connect to the internet. As a result, they can be remotely controlled.
By saying ‘devices,’ we mean each device in the house, starting from the microwave to the house’s whole heating system.
These devices use an internet protocol to connect to each other through a hub. The hub is usually your smartphone, or it may be a network router.
However, unlike the traditional remotely controlled devices, smart home devices can collect your private information and store it. The data can go all the way from credit card data to your daily habits. Plus, it may be stored on the network or on the device, and here lies the risk of exposing it to hackers. Each device that can connect to the internet poses a privacy concern.
Are Smart Homes Dangerous? 5 Common Threats
So, now we understand that smart homes aren’t entirely secure. Does that mean they’re dangerous? Not necessarily, but there are a lot of associated risks. Here’s a roundup of the most common threats to smart home systems.
Private Information Attacks
Most devices in your smart home contain a lot of private information hackers can use against you. That includes your credit card details, location, and birth info. If the devices aren’t well-protected, the information could fall into the hands of thieves, and they may use your info in shady deals.
To avoid such hacks, try not to share private financial information with the smart devices, and don’t connect other applications or email clients that can have sensitive information.
Password Stealth
If a hacker can steal your Facebook account’s password, then your smart device’s password can be stolen as well. Gaining access to any device is pretty easy if the password is weak. Any security lapse can get the hackers inside.
But what would a hacker do with the password of a smart home device?
If there’s no data included, the hacker may start tampering with the devices in your home. For instance. You may find your TV channels changing by themselves. Or even worse, the lights may switch off suddenly. The matters may develop until the hacker breaks into your home.
In these cases, the best way to avoid them is using complex passwords and two-face authentication in all the devices of the house.
Identity Theft
There’s little a man can’t do when he has the credit card details, birth details, and other man’s sensitive information. Identity theft becomes a piece of cake in this case.
Some cyberthieves prefer hacking into a smart-device company instead of limiting themselves to one user. As a result, they get the company’s database, and all the user’s data becomes at their disposal.
With the said data, the hackers can apply for a credit card, impersonate anyone, or even apply for a mortgage under another man’s name. The possibilities are endless.
The only way to protect yourself from that is by sharing only minimal and necessary personal data. You may also want to monitor your credit card regularly to catch anything odd.
Tracking Location
Even if the smart home devices are secure enough not to leak the owner’s private information, they may reveal your location. As a result, the hackers may spy on you and find your place in real-time.
Gaining access to your location isn’t particularly hard. All the hackers have to do is send you a malicious link on your smartphone. If you click on the link, they receive your exact location using any device connected to the same network. If you connect your home’s smart devices to your smartphone, the hacker can now control them.
Getting around this is easy. You can provide a network dedicated to your smart home devices and get a separate one for your personal use. That way, your smartphone alone will get the hackers nowhere.
Breaking In
All the previously mentioned risks may seem simple next to the risk of breaking into your house. That doesn’t only put you and your family in danger, but it also means thieves could steal your property.
Security devices like surveillance cameras and smart door locks may not pose a limitation to professional hackers. Any security loophole in these devices can enable the thieves to disable the camera and unlock the doors.
The results can be disastrous if it gets to that. The best thing you can do to avoid that is to install a traditional security alarm without any smart options that can be easily hacked into.
The Verdict: Are Smart Homes Worth It?
Reading about the risks associated with smart homes may cause you to shy away from the idea. Are smart homes worth all the dangers?
Yes, they’re worth it. The benefits of smart homes outweigh their disadvantages by a reasonable amount. If you take the necessary security precautions and use complex passwords, there’s no need to fear.
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