Because smart home devices rely on wireless connections to function, they are vulnerable to remote attacks by default. This is why smart homes have become a target for hackers in recent years. So how are smart homes hacked, and how can you protect your smart home from being exploited by malicious actors?

How can smart homes be hacked?

There are many ways and means by which a smart home can be hacked, including:

• Unsecured wireless connections
• Software vulnerabilities
• Safety features are lackluster

Typically, smart home devices connect to your home’s Wi-Fi network, and hackers use these connections to access smart devices. If the router hardware is outdated, or the network is not password-protected, cybercriminals may be able to penetrate the home Wi-Fi and then infiltrate other connected devices.

In addition, the lack of software updates can also make smart technology vulnerable to hacking. Smart devices rely on software to function, and this software can usually be updated regularly. Software updates provide new features, patch bugs, and solve other problems that can hinder the performance of the program.

Software updates can also fix software vulnerabilities. These code differences can make software programs easier to exploit and crack. Software vulnerabilities are very common and are a favorite hacking vector for cybercriminals. If updates are avoided, many dangerous software vulnerabilities can remain on smart devices for months or even years, leaving hackers with opportunities to exploit.

Finally, smart devices that have not been equipped with adequate security features are also more vulnerable to malicious actors. Poor encryption, lack of authentication barriers, and other pitfalls can make smart technology vulnerable to attacks, which is why it is important to buy products from reputable brands.

How to protect your smart home from hackers

In summary, we can see how smart homes are often hacked. Let’s take a look at how to protect your home from malicious actors.

Limit connections

It’s easy to connect smart technology to any other device you can think of, just to improve the convenience of home life. But it’s these countless connections that increase the possibility of hacker attacks.

Let’s say that the smart speaker is connected to a mobile phone, laptop, tablet, and smart TV. While this makes it easier to perform different actions in different areas of the home, it gives hackers multiple avenues to choose from if they want to penetrate the smart home through wireless connections.

Use geofencing

Geofencing is an excellent smart home feature that controls devices based on their distance from the house. Geofencing confirms the location through a smartphone or smartwatch, and then executes a series of routines based on daily schedules.

For example, geofencing can be used to ensure that the smart lock on the front door is only deactivated when you are close to it. This way, it is difficult for hackers to use the smart lock to enter the house even if you go out.

On the other hand, smart devices can also be programmed through geofencing to turn off the power when people are not there. If the device is completely inactive, it is usually more difficult to attack remotely.

Of course, geofencing is not an all-in-one smart home security solution. Even with geofencing features set up, devices can still be hacked. But using geofencing to set parameters on smart technology can limit the ability of hackers to successfully abuse the device.

Use authentication methods

In a smart home, authentication should always be used as this prevents unauthorized people from accessing the device.

Authentication methods can range from simple passwords to two-factor authentication and even keys. Whichever option you prefer, the most important thing is to use it on your smart home devices.

Protect Wi-Fi networks

Vulnerable Wi-Fi networks are a major hacking vector for cybercriminals, so it’s important to protect your home network as much as possible.

Wi-Fi networks can be protected in a number of ways, including:

• Password protect network access
• Changing the default password for your network
• Enable network encryption
• Check for any suspicious connected devices
• Update software and firmware regularly
• Allow only trusted individuals to access the network
• Keep your router name private

By taking these steps, you can ensure that hackers can’t easily penetrate your network. In fact, hackers often look for weaker networks to exploit, so keeping it as secure as possible may make your smart home an unwelcome target from the start.

Update software and firmware regularly

Postponing software updates can cause trouble for your smart home, namely due to security vulnerabilities.

And you should also update device hardware as often as possible. Hardware is a permanent software that controls hardware components.

Hardware doesn’t need to be updated like software does. But these occasional updates can help solve problems and ensure that the hardware components of the device are running optimally.

This is especially true for Wi-Fi routers, as routers are often the center of smart home hacking attacks. Every five years or so, consider updating the router’s hardware.

Avoid knockoffs

In order to save money, some people may want to choose less well-known and less reviewed smart products. This is completely reasonable, but it is also important to be wary of the “copycat” devices you buy.

This is because cheaper products are sometimes less efficiently designed and may lack important security features so that manufacturers can stick to tighter production budgets.

What’s more, some smart devices may come pre-installed with malware. Some scam websites sell customers infected products so that personal data can be stolen once the device is activated and in use.

Protecting your smart home is a must

Some may think that hackers would never target a smart home, but a lot of personal information can be stolen through such an attack. So, to keep your devices and data safe, consider the above tips to avoid smart home hackers.

By following these security tips, you can significantly reduce the risk of cyber threats and ensure your Smart Home remains a safe and secure environment.