Navigating the complex world of smart home devices and ensuring privacy can feel like an uphill battle. Insights from a privacy expert and a director general shed light on effective strategies. The article begins with advice on protecting your home network and wraps up with the importance of separating smart and personal devices, featuring six expert tips in total. Discover actionable recommendations to safeguard your privacy in the era of smart technology.
- Protect Your Home Network
- Update Software Regularly
- Use Strong and Unique Passwords
- Review and Update Privacy Settings
- Isolate IoT Devices on Separate Network
- Separate Smart and Personal Devices
Protect Your Home Network
The problem with smart-home devices and IoT devices is that their computing power is very limited. In turn, their security is very limited. It’s crucial to protect your home network very well to limit your threat exposure. Use a Wi-Fi router that requires two-factor authentication; and don’t stop there. The best way to protect privacy is to use fewer applications. Rather than buying a smart TV, connect a computer to your TV to watch streaming through a VPN so that you can retain your privacy but still enjoy modern amenities.
Bill Mann
Privacy Expert at Cyber Insider, Cyber Insider
Update Software Regularly
To prevent privacy issues with smart home devices, the software should be updated all the time. Most software updates contain patches for general security vulnerabilities, which reduce the chances of hacking. Thirdly, the privacy settings in a device should be checked, and any unused features, like location tracking, should be disabled.
Additionally, it is recommended that one connects devices to their particular Wi-Fi network that contains only IoT devices, hence protecting other personal data. These measures ensure that users can experience the convenience of smart technology with greater peace of mind regarding privacy.
Tornike Asatiani
CEO, Edumentors
Use Strong and Unique Passwords
Use strong, long, and unique passwords for your smart home devices and Wi-Fi network, and keep updating them. Having passwords for both creates a secure system where you don’t need to worry if one of the passwords is compromised, as the other remains intact.
For this, you can also use a password-management tool to store unlimited passwords and sync them between various devices. It will ease your task without your having to remember many passwords.
Soubhik Chakrabarti
CEO, Canada Hustle
Review and Update Privacy Settings
I understand the growing concern around privacy with smart home devices. These devices offer convenience but can expose sensitive information if not managed properly.
One best practice I highly recommend is regularly reviewing and updating privacy settings. Most smart home devices have default settings that may not prioritize your privacy. Take the time to explore the settings in each device’s app. Look for options to limit data sharing and control what information is collected.
For instance, turn off features that require constant listening or recording unless necessary. Also, consider creating separate networks for your smart devices, isolating them from your personal computers and smartphones. This adds an extra layer of security, making it harder for potential intruders to access your data.
Finally, update your devices and apps to ensure you have the latest security features. By actively managing these aspects, you can enjoy the benefits of smart technology while protecting your privacy. It’s all about being proactive and informed.
Fawad langah
Director General, Best Diplomats
Isolate IoT Devices on Separate Network
One of the best practices for keeping smart home devices secure and safe is to house all the IoT smart devices on a delicate Wi-Fi network. If that hacker hacked into your IoT system, it would be isolated to the IoT Wi-Fi network.
Daniel Lin
Operation Manager, HomeAuto Solutions Pte Ltd
Separate Smart and Personal Devices
To protect your privacy at home from smart devices, you need to physically and technically separate them from your private life.
Most users add all their devices to the same wireless network they use for work, personal, and other private activities. Instead, you should keep all smart home devices and personal devices on separate networks. Your main Wi-Fi network remains private for your personal devices and sensitive data, while your smart devices operate on a segregated network. If compromised, hackers only access your smart home system, not your personal files or banking information.
To maximize protection, you should also think about physically keeping smart home devices out of areas where private discussions occur. You can listen to what is being recorded on most of your devices to see how far the microphones can pick up sounds. Some devices may only detect sounds from a few feet away, while others can pick up conversations from over 30 feet away.
The most secure smart home is one that’s thoughtfully compartmentalized, not just password-protected.
Zachary Fleming
CEO, iFix
