Smart homes are swiftly bringing the future to the present day. The popularity of smart homes and the Internet of Things is steadily on the rise. Current estimations show there will be about 300 million smart homes by 2023. With smart homes becoming more prominent, it’s never a bad idea to secure and protect your entire home network. Vulnerabilities in a home’s connected appliances or privacy issues on a home network can lead to heartache or other problems down the line. Securing a smart home network is key to a safe, comfortable, and modern home. Here are a few tips for securing your home network while enhancing the quality and enjoyment of your smart home for a long time to come:
Know and Understand Common Security Threats
While many of our devices are increasingly connected or integrated into our home’s network, the very same devices are often left unprotected from an array of threats and vulnerabilities. The first step to keeping your smart home security is knowing the security threats affecting connected homes today. The common security threats easily break down into a few categories:
- Permanent Denial of Service Attacks – This is a rare but severe problem that can ultimately ruin a device.
- The hijacking of devices – This can be tricky to notice until an appliance starts acting up. Everything appears normal at first, but suddenly the lights are coming on and off, or the thermostat randomly changes. Since machines can often be connected, what happens to one can affect others. It doesn’t happen often, but ensuring your device IDs are secure and controlling access is a good idea.
- Privacy, data, and identity theft – smart devices and appliances can be readily exploited, leading to fraudulent transactions and possible identity theft. The key to prevent this is using authentication and encryption protocols with the connected aspects of your appliances/devices and keep a keen eye on who has access to them.
These may seem scary or intimidating at first, but there are many solutions to preventing these kinds of problems, specifically in the realm of network security.
Manage all your Smart Devices From a Single Hub
When it comes to managing your smart home’s devices, why not try out a smart home network security system? These are typically devices connected to a home’s router and interface with the devices on your network through proprietary software that you can completely control. They’re easy to set up and use, making them an ideal solution for any homeowner. Using powerful security methods like two-factor authentication, complex passwords, and the latest encryption methods will help secure your home. But adding a home network security station to the mix can significantly increase your online safety and the integrity of your smart appliances. Controlling everything from a single hub provides better agency and protection over your connected home.
Monitor Family and Guest Use of Your Devices
When it comes to using devices, it’s always wise to know who’s using them. Although Controlling access points to smart devices in your home is only one of many ways to prevent trouble. Among the many useful security features found in a sound security system is the ability to monitor your family’s device usage and set rules for family or guest use in your home. This feature allows you to see device usage on-the-go and have immediate control over approving new devices connecting to your network. Then you have the power to disconnect any unknown device or halt unauthorized usage immediately.
Manage Your Network Data and Traffic
The beauty of using a security network device lies in its ability to scan your network for possible threats continually. In the unlikely event that your smart TV, coffee maker, or work computers get hacked, you’ll want to take immediate action. While some security threats are a bit more unlikely than others, knowing what’s happening on your network is an invaluable way to monitor potential dangers and take swift action. This idea extends doubly so to any kind of online work or entertainment pursuits. On top of protecting your IoT devices, the network security device serves the invaluable function of helping protect you from infection by malware, harmful files from websites, and even ransomware attacks. This function alone can save you a lot of heartache over time. Not bad for a small device; not bad at all.
Keep Everything Updated
Something in digital and online security that gets overlooked often is the simple act of updating things. This lack of updating also extends to keeping the software and firmware of your appliances and other IoT devices up-to-date in a smart home. Implementing a firewall, running regular system scans (on everything that connects if possible), and using strong passwords are all sound practices if you supplement them with a network security system. The beauty of a comprehensive device is not merely the protection it offers, but the comfort of knowing it’s keeping a close watch on your safety and security while empowering you to take control of security your way.
