Smart homes offer convenience and efficiency, but they also come with potential security risks. As you connect more devices to your home networks, the chance of getting hacked increases. You can take several easy steps to protect your smart home from cyber threats. This guide will walk you through the process of securing your smart home.
How To Secure Your Smart Home Network
The foundation of a secure smart home is a well-protected Wi-Fi network. We recommend using strong security measures with your home network to create a robust defense against potential threats. “Anything that’s always connected, always sending data—that’s something a nearby attacker can latch on to,” says Craig Young, a principal security researcher at the risk management firm Tripwire.
Choosing and Setting Up a Secure Router
Your router and modem are the gateway to your smart home and the most important aspect of securing your smart home. Keep the following in mind when you choose a router for your home:
- Choose a model with built-in security features.
- Enable the firewall.
- Disable remote management.
- Change the default admin credentials.
If you have an old router around five or more years old, we recommend getting a new one as it’ll be more secure.
Implementing Strong Wi-Fi Security Measures
Securing your Wi-Fi network is essential to preventing unauthorized access. Follow these steps:
- Use WPA2 or WPA3 encryption to ensure only authorized users can connect to your network. Young emphasizes, “Select WPA2 in Wi-Fi settings (and avoid WPS at all costs).”
- Create a strong, unique password combining letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Hide your network’s SSID name from appearing in nearby device searches.
- Enable MAC address filtering to control which devices can join.
Frequently Changing Your Wi-Fi Password
It’s good practice to change your Wi-Fi password regularly. This reduces the chances of an unauthorized person gaining access to your network. Let your family know when you change it so they don’t have any connection issues.
How To Protect Individual Smart Devices
Each smart device in your home is a potential entry point for hackers. You can significantly reduce your overall risk by securing these devices individually.
Updating Firmware and Software
Manufacturers often release updates to address newly discovered vulnerabilities, so keep your devices up to date. “Update firmware,” Young recommends. “Enable auto-updates, which often patch discovered security holes, on all devices.”
Managing Device Passwords and Access
Strong, unique passwords for each device are essential. Young advises, “Set a strong password. Use at least 20 characters of mixed cases and symbols and avoid any word in the dictionary. And this bears repeating: Change any and all default passwords.” Ensure that these passwords are stored securely and access is limited to trusted users only.
Regular Device Audits
Conduct regular audits of your devices to ensure all security features are up to date and functioning correctly. This proactive approach helps identify and mitigate vulnerabilities before they can be exploited.
Creating a Separate Network for Smart Devices
Isolating your smart devices from your main network adds an extra layer of security. Young suggests, “Separate traffic. If your router supports a guest network, use it for devices that don’t need to talk to others.” This approach can contain potential breaches and protect any personal information you have stored on computers, tablets, and smartphones.
Benefits of a Guest Network
A guest network for smart devices offers these advantages:
- Limits access to your main network
- Reduces the impact of a compromised device
- Simplifies management of device permissions
How To Set Up a Guest Network
Setting up a guest network is typically straightforward. These steps may vary slightly depending on the brand and model of your router, but here’s the basic step-by-step process:
- Access your router’s settings.
- Look for the guest network option.
- Enable the feature and set a unique SSID name.
- Configure security settings such as using WPA2 encryption.
- Create a strong, unique password.
Safeguarding Your Personal Information
These tips help reduce the risk of your personal information falling into the wrong hands.
Using Separate Email Accounts for Smart Devices
Creating a dedicated email account for your smart home devices helps contain potential security breaches. Young advises, “Use a separate email. Set up an account solely for connected devices to limit the personal info exposed in a hack.”
Limiting Data Sharing with Smart Home Companies
Only share necessary information with smart home companies. Follow these precautions:
- Opt out of data sharing when possible.
- Regularly check and update your privacy settings.
- Review privacy policies before using devices.
Encrypting Sensitive Data
Use encryption to protect sensitive data you save on your smart devices when possible. This adds a layer of security by ensuring that even if data is intercepted, it cannot be easily understood. For example, protect your “Taxes” folder on your desktop by only allowing someone to open it after entering a password.
Advanced Security Measures for Smart Homes
Here are some extra steps you can take for even more security in your smart home.
Use Two-Factor Authentication
Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security by requiring a second form of verification beyond your password. For example, after you log in with a password, you’ll need to enter a code from an email or text message. This can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorized access when your password is compromised.
Using Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)
A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it much harder for hackers to intercept your data. Some routers support VPN functionality, allowing you to protect all devices on your network simultaneously.
Installing Security Cameras with Encrypted Footage
Modern security cameras often come with encryption features to protect captured footage. Install security cameras that use encrypted storage and transmission to prevent others from viewing the feed without permission.
Utilizing Biometric Authentication
Biometric authentication, such as fingerprint or facial recognition, adds another layer of security to your smart devices. These methods are generally more secure than passwords since they’re harder to replicate.
Our Conclusion
Securing your smart home requires a proactive approach to cybersecurity. Regularly update your devices, use strong passwords, and be mindful of the information you share. While no system is impenetrable, these measures will make your smart home safer from potential hackers.