Khaberni - With the widespread use of smart home devices such as cameras, smart locks, smart lighting, internet-connected heating and cooling devices, and others, warnings from security experts about a range of risks that users may face in smart homes are also spreading.
According to experts, three of the biggest risks for smart homes are mostly disregarded by users.
Location and Data Tracking
One of the most significant risks is location tracking and monitoring. Because some devices, such as those equipped with GPS or connected to cloud services, store location data or your activity, making them vulnerable to hacking.
Hackers can exploit this data to determine your location or your timings when you're away from home or even monitor your activity inside the home.
Data Manipulation
Even cameras and surveillance devices may not be immune to risks. If the transmitted data is not encrypted or the system is weakly protected, hackers could modify the recordings or manipulate them to show something different from what actually happened, which means that visual evidence may become unreliable if attacked.
Risks of External Applications
Sometimes part of the convenience of remote control in a smart home comes through third-party applications, whether on your phone or in the cloud. But if these applications are not well secured, anyone could exploit a vulnerability in them to gain access and control your devices remotely like turning lights on or off, unlocking doors, accessing cameras, and others.
Reducing Risks
From a security perspective, it is observed that smart homes represent an appealing target, not only for individual hacking but also for exploiting the devices in larger attacks or for remote control of homes, linking cybersecurity with actual safety in the home.
To minimize risks, it is advised to use strong and different passwords for each device and secure the home network, preferably a smart network specifically separate for smart home devices away from computers or phones network.
Also, it is important not to grant third-party applications more permissions than they actually need, and to update devices regularly to minimize vulnerabilities.
Additionally, it is wise to think carefully before installing any new device, as every additional device is a potential entry point for risks, so do not add devices unless necessary.
