A Smart Home is one that is outfitted with devices that are connected to the Internet, allowing homeowners to manage different household appliances or systems remotely. Examples include: remotely managing your thermostat, lights, blinds, vacuum cleaner; viewing feeds from your video doorbell device; and controlling coffee makers, refrigerators, water heaters, and other appliances remotely.
If it can be accessed remotely by you, there’s a chance it can be hacked remotely by cybercriminals. However, there are ways to mitigate that risk.
Ensure your devices and appliances are protected. Most well-known brands meet network safety and security standards. When it comes to Smart Home devices, paying a little more for a device that is sure to be more protected is worth it.
Protect your Wi-Fi network. Typically, Smart Home devices will be connected to your
router. Ensuring that you have strong password protection – and don’t share that password with just anyone – will safeguard all those devices within the network.
Never use public Wi-Fi to access your Smart Home devices. Because you are able to connect with your devices remotely, it may be tempting to just pull those connections up anytime, anywhere. But, if you use a non-secure public Wi-Fi network to do so, you are at much more risk of allowing cybercriminals to access all your devices, also.
Protect your smartphone’s security. Your smartphone is the key to accessing all those Smart Home devices. If it is stolen or hacked, a cybercriminal may now also have access to all those devices, and the data that goes along with them. If your smartphone is stolen, try to lock it with remote access as soon as possible. If you think your phone has been accessed, change the password.
Nuvera’s experts can help you determine the security of your home network, along with speeds and connections, by performing a network assessment.
Did You Know?
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