Smart home gadgets can make your life easier, but convenience comes at a price. Smart devices often lack strong authentication. They can easily leak your data, as some of them don't use encryption or use outdated software. These devices are easy targets for hackers. It's enough for hackers to gain access to just one of your smart devices, and your whole network is compromised. Privacy loss, spying, or control over smart devices are all real risks. Your home could even become a base from which hackers can launch a larger attack, such as DDoS attacks. The good news is you don't have to accept this risk to enjoy the comfort of your smart home.
A few smart habits and practices can help you reduce the danger of hacker attacks. Staying safe can be as simple as using strong passwords or keeping your smart-home network local without connecting it to the internet. You can keep your device's firmware up to date and make sure all the traffic between them is encrypted. That said, let's look in more detail at five easy ways to strengthen the security of your smart home.