In recent years, hackers have progressively targeted smart devices (or any device connected to your home network), including smart TVs, voice assistants, security systems, cellphones, and more.
By accessing your smart home system, cybercriminals can obtain sensitive data, view your location, and control your devices––putting your personal information at risk.
Implementing cybersecurity best practices is your first line of defense to stave away bad actors and ensure the safety of your family.
Keep your Smart Home Secure by Following these 3 Steps:
- Practice Password Vigilance
One of the easiest and most effective ways to prevent cybercriminals from accessing your devices is by using a password generator and picking a password with a complex combination of letters, numbers, and symbols.
Unlike popular belief, passwords need to be difficult enough that they aren’t easily remembered, which means you’ll need a convenient way of keeping track of them all. Our cybersecurity expert, Frank Marrero, suggests using the app, LastPass.
Once you’ve chosen an undecryptable password, add another measure of security by setting up two levels of authentication for all your smart devices, and be sure to change your passwords periodically.
- Use Secure Products and Hire a Professional System Integrator
Some smart devices on the market offer more protection than others, so you want to research their security practices before purchasing. Take Josh.ai, for example––it’s a voice-activated device like Amazon Alexa but provides you with multiple layers of security with its military-grade encryption.
Beyond using secure products, hiring a professional system integrator will take you to another level by ensuring all the correct firewall rules are in place and that your devices are allocated appropriately.
If you are conducting most of your work from home, for example, a professional system integrator may set up a virtual local area network that solely supports your work devices. Separating your work and home devices reduces the likelihood of any security compromises.
- Keep a Few Secrets
Refrain from sharing sensitive information with your smart devices, such as your finances, medical history, birthdate, client’s information, location, etc. This will prevent hackers from having access to information that could harm you further.
In addition, you’re not constrained to give any of your device’s permissions you aren’t comfortable with. Risking your security is not worth it. If one of your devices asks for permission to access sensitive information in exchange for a feature, forgo the feature.
You can have the best of both worlds: you don’t need to sacrifice smart home living for security, but it’s essential to take proper precautions when safeguarding vital data––providing you and your family with peace of mind will be well worth it.
Responsive Living, the term coined by Acoustic Architects founders, Aaron Flint and Spencer Hauldren, is the concept of seamlessly enhancing the client’s unique lifestyle using smart home technology. Responsive Living allows you to interact with your space via touch input, voice command, and predictive automation, placing you in full control of your home.
If you would like to learn more about integrating new systems into your smart home system, feel free to connect with us. We will be happy to schedule a demo with you.
For more information, visit acousticarchitects.net.
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