How To Secure Your Smart Home Devices

The internet has transformed almost every corner of our lives. The inception of IoT products has given us greater control of appliances, lights, and other smart devices in our homes.

Nonetheless, these smart home devices can be prone to security breaches. These are devices that can connect to the internet and have the potential of being hacked. Digital security can be a difficult task.

However, there are some simple rules and steps you can follow to secure these devices. You do not necessarily have to seek professional assistance to do it. This article discusses different ways of securing your IoT devices.

Only Purchase From Trusted Brands

Before purchasing any smart device, conduct some research about it. You may look into the past security issues of the product you would like to purchase. In addition, go through the manufacturer’s security policies.

If you have any reservations, it is better to go for renowned manufacturers such as Google and Amazon. Such manufacturers have well-detailed security features built into the devices.

Moreover, avoid purchasing used products. This is because it may be difficult to clear data that has been installed or downloaded on the device. Manufacturers may not allow you to transfer ownership to second parties. Hence before purchasing a new smart device, ensure that no other party has had access to it.

Installation Of Software Updates And Disable All Unused Features

This is arguably the most effective and easiest way of how to secure your smart home. Ensure that you install all the necessary software updates as soon as you can. All software updates usually have patches for all new vulnerabilities. If these updates are not installed, you are opening up the device for exploitation.

Some devices give you the option of updating all versions automatically whenever new versions are released. It’s, therefore, recommended that you always turn this option on in case you forget to do the updates manually.

Furthermore, disable all smart features that you do not plan to use. For example, if you are not planning to use the voice control feature on your smart TV, turn it off. This limits the potential ways intruders can infiltrate your smart TV security and the amount of data your device gathers.

Depending on how smart your device is, it should be able to scan for new updates and install them. The simpler smart devices will require you to search for patches yourself. Ensure that you are always running on the latest software. Put a reminder on your calendar to alert you on when to check for new software updates.

Change All Default Passwords

Another key thing to remember when handling your smart home devices is to always change the preset default password. Note that attackers can easily discover your default password and infiltrate your device. Setting your own password is one of the most effective ways of protecting your device from security breaches.

Ensure that you change your password as soon as you turn on your new device. Choose a unique code with both symbols and numbers. Avoid using your birth date and names, generic names such as ‘qwerty’ or sequential characters such as 1234. Note that even after changing the password on your gadget; do not access them from untrusted or unsecured devices.

For example, using public computers can give third parties to your gadget. Similarly, using a computer that does not have antivirus software protection puts your gadget vulnerable to attack.

Connect Your Device To A Guest Network

To increase the security of your smart home devices, you should consider connecting them to a guest Wi-Fi network. If you already have a guest Wi-Fi account in your home, connect your devices to this network. Avoid using your main network.

This helps to protect the more sensitive devices your main network such computers and security cameras. And if your smart device does not have to be online, do not connect it to the internet. It being online automatically put it at risk of manipulation.

With the above steps, you should be better placed to make your smart home much more secure from external attacks. Securing your devices gives you a peace of mind. You can enjoy the amazing smart features of your connected devices without any worries.