The UK hasbanned these default passwordsand mandated basic security levels for connected products.
According to the UK government, most people assume these devices are secure.
But the opposite is true, with smart-rig-equipped homes enduring over12,000 attacks per week.
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Security Hole
It’s easy to forget how many devices we have connected to our home networks.
There are smart lights, door locks, security cameras, thermostats, and other home automation devices.
But we also hook up our TVs, speakers, printers, and more.
Dan LeFebvre / Unsplash
Or a printer might open a connection to check for software updates.
The problem is that these devices are accessible to anyone on the internet.
The creepy part of this is that people can then look into your home via your cameras.
So, how can you protect yourself and your friends and family right now?
The first option is to not use smart home gadgets.
That’s easy if you don’t care for automatic lights that are unreliable anyway.
But it’s more challenging if you use a smart TV or other media unit.
“Offering help is important.
Some smart gadgets are not easy to configure, even when it comes to changing the default password.”
Dan LeFebvre / Unsplash
But what kind of help?
Step one is to change those default passwords.
Usually, the manual that came with the unit will tell you how.
If not, it’s easy to Google for it.
Then, if you could, create a separate web connection, just for your smart devices.
The most crucial step is to be aware of the problem.
Assume all devices are insecure and treat them as such.
New laws are great, but nothing beats taking care of business yourself.
