Don’t expect smart home innovation to slow down anytime soon.
A recent CNET survey found that more than a quarter of U.S. homeowners already have smart home technology installed in their homes. And experts predict the number of homeowners adopting smart home tech will continue on its upward trajectory both nationwide and across the globe.
We know smart homes take convenience to a whole new level and integrate seamlessly with our favorite devices. But how do smart homes really fair when it comes to home security tech and safety?
Smart Homes and Cyber Attacks: What You Need To Know
Smart homes do pose unique challenges that you wouldn’t ordinarily encounter with a traditional home. For one, you have to grapple with the very real possibility that your home could literally get hacked.
If you’re a fan of the Emmy award-winning series Mr. Robot, then you may be familiar with this fear coming to life when cyber criminals hacked a character’s own home, rendering her helpless to even control her lights or TV.
A study from the University of Michigan set out to prove how easy it is for cybercriminals to hack into smart homes. Hackers can creat their own “lock-pick malware” application to reveal door pin numbers. They also gained control of smart home lighting systems and fire alarms as well—a true moment of life imitating art.
But why does smart tech usage continue to skyrocket despite growing concerns with cyber attacks?
Fortunately for us, as smart home technology continues to innovate so does advances in home security tech. If you want to protect yourself from cyber attacks, then you have to take your security seriously. No excuses.
Home Security Tech Solutions To Protect Against Hacking
We can’t stress enough how important it is to consider home security tech solutions from the get-go.
PC World recently reported these top tips for protecting your smart home hackers:
- Properly secure your smart home routers. Choose reputable brands with proven track records in exemplary security.
- Keep your smart home devices hidden to prevent home visitors from tampering with them.
- Use smart home cloud applications administered by a secure service that can provide strong remote security. Manually checking your security apps can leave you more vulnerable to attack.
- Make sure you update your automated applications to protect against new threats.
Password Protection
As a rule of thumb, you should never use simple or easy-to-guess passwords for your smart home apps and home security tech devices.
Make sure to go over this list of password security tips with your family before setting up your smart home technology:
- Don’t create passwords using letters in consecutive order, like “abcdef.”
- Avoid using names of family members or pets.
- Never include any identifying or personal information in your passwords
- Don’t use the same password for all your accounts and devices.
- Don’t email passwords to yourself.
- Do not give out password information.
You can further boost your home security tech passwords with password managers and additional authentication tools.
Boost Lock and Key Security
Whether you’re using traditional house keys or fobs, you always need a backup plan if your smart home keys are lost or compromised.
Make sure your most trusted friends and family members have an extra pair of traditional house keys in case you’re locked out. If you leave your keys at work, don’t wait to call and confirm that your keys are still on the premises.
Switching to key fobs is another way to keep your front door secure.
Fumbling for your keys in the dark can feel unsafe. But simply waving your key fob in front of a sensor can unlock and secure your door in nanoseconds.
If you want to duplicate a fob for a trusted friend or family member, you can easily order your duplication online and have it processed within 1 quick business day.
Lock Down Your Home With Smart Locks
To beef up their security, more homeowners are starting to install smart lock home security tech in their homes.
Today’s smart locks are doing some pretty amazing things with the following security features:
- Integrated sound and movement sensors.
- Automatic phone alerts when movement is detected too close to your door.
- Tracks all individuals who enter and exit your home.
- Let’s homeowners generate “limited access” key pins to regulate security.
- Enables remote homeowners to “visually confirm” guests before letting them in remotely.
- Homeowners can control their smart home locks entirely from their smartphones.
An important point to be aware of is that smart lock home security tech runs on batteries so make sure to routinely check your lock’s battery life.
Hold A House Meeting About Home Security Tech
Security mistakes happen when we’re not careful, but mistakes are rare when everyone in the family is on the same page.
For starters, If you have small children and pets in the home, make sure keep your smart home devices out of reach. If you have a minor child capable of using smart home devices, educate them on the importance of smart home device safety and to never share passwords with friends and strangers.
Teens should also be thoroughly briefed on the importance of never sharing passwords with friends, classmates, or strangers. If your teen is old enough to be home alone, it’s extremely important that they’re fully aware of your home security tech plan.
More Smart Home Safety Tips To Consider
If you have any senior citizens in your home, you should be fully aware of assisted living smart home solutions available to you.
Home security tech for seniors include:
- Slip and fall detectors
- Medication schedule trackers
- Automatic sensors that alert seniors to cooking hazards
- GPS tracking and more.
When it comes to smart homes, there’s nothing to be afraid of as long as you’re mindful about your security.
Managing your home security tech is now easier than ever before, and you can achieve that peace of mind remotely from any location as well.
You can’t afford to not feel safe in your home. Make sure to go over this guide with your family before powering on your new smart home devices.