Reducing the risks of Smart Home technology with the rise of IoT

Anthony Neary, Managing Director, safe.co.uk

There are a variety of risks associated with the increased usage of smart home devices in the technology-filled homes of today, so it is important from a retailer’s perspective to know exactly what risks are implicated and how best to educate our consumers on reducing the risks of becoming a victim to cyber criminals.

Passwords

• Most security devices are supplied with basic default passwords such as 0000 or 1234. Although this is done by the manufacturers for ease of setup, it is vital that consumers know to change the password straight away when completing the setup.
• Passwords should be changed regularly, especially when multiple users are involved, and should not be codes that can be guessed easily, such as 0000 or 1234.

Software and protection

• All smart devices must be up to date with the latest software (which often contains upgraded security protection).
• Private networks are a useful way to connect smart devices, as long as they are fully equipped with the latest firewall and anti-virus software to prevent hackers and malware.

Product development

• Manufacturers and retailers are aware of the risks associated with IoT but it’s important this knowledge is shared with the consumer to ensure cyber protection in smart homes.
• Technology in 2016 has allowed smart home security to evolve with the needs of the consumer. For example, Yale Smart Home Alarms use rolling code technology to ensure that it is not possible to intercept a remote control by making a clone, as the unique code is changed each time it is sent to the control panel. If a code is intercepted for misuse, then it simply won’t work, adding a further level of security.

Hooking up homes to smart tech is relatively easy thanks to advances in recent years, and reputable suppliers are best placed to ensure consumers have the knowledge they need when kitting out their homes with the latest smart products.

This new Smart Living IP Camera with pan, tilt and zoom from Yale is Wi-Fi enabled, allowing remote viewing from your smartphone anywhere in the world. When motion is detected by the camera, the video begins recording, including sound capture, at a wide 60-degree angle and will automatically upload to a free 2GB DropBox account. The camera also includes infrared night vision for full security recording night and day. For a product like this a decent network protection will need to be in place to prevent losing any videos that are stored remotely.

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