Your Smart Home Devices Are Putting You at Risk

The range and scope of smart home devices continues to grow. Smart devices have taken over homes, offices and schools all over the world. Maybe you’re using the occasional home assistant like Amazon’s Alexa or Google’s Home or even, Siri on your iPhone. Perhaps, instead of using a key to enter your office or home, you are required to enter a code on your smart lock. Smart devices have become mainstream and everyone is in search of the next gadget that will allow them to control locks, lights and even refrigerators, from their phone. However, there are some risks associated with these devices and ways to protect yourself. Here are some:

Hacking into security camera

In 2019, a video of a young girl speaking to a voice coming from inside her room went viral. In the video, a man tells the girl from a speaker that he is Santa Claus and encourages her to misbehave. The video is from the family’s Ring security camera that was installed in the 8-year old’s bedroom a few days before the incident. The man had taken advantage of Rings two-way talk function. Across the United States, incidents like this one have become increasingly common.

Al-Harib Security Systems, a security solution company in Qatar that offers smart home solutions, suggests that you secure the network you are connected to. They suggest that you change the username and password given to you by your internet provider and after, regularly change your password.

Police surveillance

In 2019, The Washington Post reported that Amazon’s home security company, Ring, is in partnership with more than 600 police departments in the United States. These partnerships allow the police to “quickly request and download” video recording from home owners Ring devices. However, many people have expressed discomfort in law enforcement possibly confiscating recording of them for cases. The Washington Post reported a large issue arises when law enforcement can keep footage and share it without providing evidence that there has been a crime. Experts suggest that check with your smart home security provider if they are working with law enforcement or a third party and what terms they have in place.

Information on home assistants

Smart home assistants have widely been popular over the last few years. They have been designed to make your life easier, by assisting you in making calls, getting your news and even ordering food. Your home assistant holds very valuable and sensitive information about you, your family and your friends. If your home assistant is accessed, hackers can get information from numbers of your phone to your credit card information.

Experts suggest that you update your devices as regularly. Manufactures regularly make updates after identifying a security issue and you need to ensure that your home assistant is up-to-date. Most importantly, learn more about what your home assistant has access to and what it can do so you can perhaps limit that access or go for another home assistant.