Smart technology has given us all kinds of fabulous devices and applications. It makes everyday life easier, more streamlined, and more organized. When it comes to smart home technology, there is the added benefit that it gives homeowners more control over their environment and can even offer security features.
With so many smart home technology gadgets and apps available, it’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and want everything available. While there are certainly some items to consider, it’s also important to be aware of the potential negatives.
As with every industry, steps are being taken to mitigate the issues, but for the most part, the tech can be trusted in the same way that iGaming brands offer fast payout casinos experts trust. Let’s go over the potential dangers of smart home technology so you can make informed decisions about what devices to get.
There Is a Risk of Remote Monitoring
Your home is meant to be your safe spot, your retreat where you can relax and be yourself. So, imagine if you were being watched without your consent or knowledge. Remote monitoring is one danger posed by smart home technology. Cybercriminals could hack into your security cameras, microphones, and more. It’s highly unsettling and, worst of all, in most cases you wouldn’t even know it’s happening.
Identity Theft Has Become More Prevalent
Identity theft is a scary thing that no one wants to go through. At the very least, it’s extremely frustrating to go through and fix. What’s also alarming is that even though identity theft has decreased slightly from its peak during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it hasn’t fallen to pre-pandemic levels. This means it’s extremely prevalent, even more than you may think.
Identity theft is a basic concept. Cybercriminals steal your personal information and then use it to commit crimes. This can ruin your credit rating, leave you with debt, and result in the theft of your passport information, among other consequences.
Your Private Data Can Be Altered
Sometimes cybercriminals focus on identity theft, other times their goal is to mess with your private data. Once this has occurred, it’s a long and difficult process to make things right again. The fact that your bank records, credit rating, address, social security number, and more can be altered is extremely scary.
Smart Home Appliances Are Open to Being Hacked
Are you amazed by the variety of smart home appliances available? It seems that nowadays you can find everything from coffee makers and washing machines to refrigerators and more with smart features. Often, they allow you to access and control them remotely, which can be useful and a big selling feature. Just be aware that these same remote features are what hackers are trying to use to their advantage.
How severe can hacking get? Well, picture this: your furnace, central air conditioning system, or even a water valve could in theory be operated by someone with nefarious motives.
Malware Can Be Planted on Smart Devices
Malware can attack any smart device. Whenever a device is connected to the internet, it is at risk of being hacked. This is exactly why anti-virus software exists and is so important. Malware is malicious software that can be installed, usually without your knowledge, on your device. Malware harms your computer, appliance, system, server, and so forth. Hackers can also use malware to access your personal data and steal it.
Smart Home Technology Can Be Used for Location Tracking
Were you aware that your smart home devices can be used to track your location? A hacker can not only access your sensitive data but also track where you are. This can make it easier for would-be intruders to break into your home, as they know when you aren’t there. Most smart home devices tend to contain information such as your name and address, meaning hackers can access that information and track your movements.
How Secure Is Your Network?
When did you last consider the security of your home network? At any given time, homes often have multiple devices connected to the network. This can include smartphones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, smart home monitoring devices, and more. If your network isn’t password-protected, then you are leaving yourself open to potential hackers.
Your network should always be locked and protected. You also need to use a strong password. You’ll find plenty of tips online about how to choose the best password. Ideally, it should be random and consist of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. You want to make it as difficult as possible for a hacker to gain access to your network.
There Are Ways to Mitigate the Dangers of Smart Home Technology
Once homeowners are aware of the potential dangers with smart home technology, the next step is to limit the threats. There are many steps you can take that will help secure your devices. Here’s a look at some of them:
- Only get the devices you need. The fewer devices you have, the fewer there are to hack into.
- Update your router before it becomes obsolete. You want to be sure that the router is using the most current security protocols.
- When there are updates available, do them right away. Don’t put them off, as these are meant to keep your smart home devices secure.
- Enable multi-factor authentication whenever possible. This is just one more layer a hacker would need to break through.
Make Sure You Know What You’re Getting Into
This information isn’t meant to scare people from purchasing or using smart home technology, rather, it’s meant to make homeowners aware of what they are getting into. By taking a few extra precautions, you can use smart home technology much safer.
