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Board Election Careers Search Français




TIPS ON SECURING YOUR SMART HOME

Smart home devices provide convenience, improved safety and an opportunity for
cost savings, but they are also easy targets for cyber criminals.

Erin Hutchison Wednesday, December 22, 2021

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Canadian homes are getting smarter. You can program your smart garage door to
automatically close at a specific time or adjust your thermostat through an app
on your phone while heading home. Your smart lock or deadbolt can detect a
mobile device or fob in your pocket as you walk up to your house.

Smart home devices provide convenience, improved safety and an opportunity for
cost savings on utilities by enabling homeowners to control their lighting,
heating, security, appliances and entertainment devices via the internet. But
smart devices are easy targets for cyber criminals. The more connected devices
in the home, the greater the risk owners face. For example, if a criminal hacks
a smart speaker, they can steal data from a computer or smartphone to commit
identity theft if it is connected to the same network. Hackers may also gain
access to your smart home cameras and audio equipment or use the GPS on your
devices to track your location.

But don’t fear, if you take some simple steps, you can enjoy the benefits of a
smart home while protecting yourself from risk.

 


TIPS FOR SMART HOME DEVICE SAFETY


CONSIDER WHAT YOU NEED

Though it may be tempting to buy every smart home device available, consider
purchasing only those that will truly benefit you. Think carefully before you
buy a smart home device with a camera, such as a smart display virtual
assistant. Most aren't necessary, except if you are purchasing a security
camera. If you do have a device with a camera, such as a smart display with a
camera for video calls, buy a cover for the camera that can slide open when you
need it.

For devices you already own, turn off features like Bluetooth, microphones and
geolocation when you are not using them. You can disconnect a device from the
internet if you only use it occasionally.


ASK SMART QUESTIONS

When purchasing a smart device, do some online research or ask the manufacturer
questions to find out whether the device meets your privacy and security
expectations. Questions may include “What data is being collected" and “With
whom is the device sharing my data?”


SECURE YOUR ROUTER

Prevent hackers from accessing your smart home devices by installing protection
on your home router. This stops threats before they get inside the home network.
Be sure to change the default username and password on your router. This goes
for your Wi-Fi network too.


USE A SEPARATE NETWORK

Another way to keep your network secure is by using your smart devices on a
separate network. Some routers come with two networks built-in or you can buy an
additional router. If you have your smart devices on a different network from
your home computer, this can help you avoid data breaches or identity theft.


ADD A VPN

You can get a VPN for your router, which changes your virtual location and
supplies super-strong encryption for anything on your network. When sending
information over a Wi-Fi network, a VPN uses encryption to scramble your data
and keep it secure and unreadable along the way. And, because your data is
exiting the VPN server, it appears to have the internet protocol (IP) address of
that server, masking your IP address and hiding your online activity.


USE STRONG PASSWORDS

Change any default passwords that come with a smart home device. Use strong,
unique, long passwords for each of your devices. Add another layer of security
with multi-factor authentication (MFA), which means you need more than one form
of verification to confirm your identity. Many devices come with MFA, or you can
use an authenticator app, such as Google Authenticator or Authy, which create a
single-use login code.

Be sure to apply these password rules to the online accounts associated with
each device, as well as your smartphone. If you don’t have a strong password to
protect your smartphone and it falls into the wrong hands, a hacker may have
access to the apps that control your smart home devices.





GET MALWARE PROTECTION AND PRIORITIZE SOFTWARE UPDATES

Some forms of malware will sneak through a secure Wi-Fi network, so malware
protection is important. You can install CIRA Canadian Shield to help protect
against this. Also be sure to stay up to date on any software updates for your
smart home devices to be sure you get any security fixes.


ERIN HUTCHISON



Erin brings to CIRA a background of marketing experience in higher education and
the not-for-profit sector. In 2015, she participated in ISOC's Youth@IGF
Programme and traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico to attend the IGF. She has a
Bachelor of International Business from Carleton University.




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