UPDATED 12:10 EDT / OCTOBER 10 2014

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Don’t let the machines takeover: The 5 basics of smart home security

What you missed in the Smart World: Park bench that tells your weight, and more

The Smart World Series With SiliconANGLE

For many, having a smart home might still seem more like science fiction than reality, but the market for smart homes is expected to grow tremendously over the next six years. “There is a big difference between the Internet of Things and other security issues,” warned Joshua Corman of I Am The Cavalry, a group of security specialists trying to promote greater awareness of emerging risks to public safety. “If my PC is hit by a cyber-attack, it is a nuisance; if my car is attacked, it could kill me.”

Just as it is becoming more difficult to find a TV that does not have some “connected” capabilities, there may come a time when home appliances, security systems and other home features are “smart” by default. Therefore, it is a good idea to start to start practicing good security habits now before hacking a smart home becomes more popular in the cyber criminal community.

Smart homes are designed to make life easier for the people who use them, but many times people are far too willing to compromise security for the sake of convenience. The more integrated your home is with technology, the more important it is for you to make sure that technology is secure and will not put your home and its inhabitants at risk of being hacked for personal data like bank information or health care records.

“Smart-home hacking is “a problem already, and it’s just going to continuously get worse,” said Jerry Irvine, a member of the National Cyber Security Task Force, speaking on the rising number of connected devices, like wearable fitness trackers and smart appliances, that can be relatively easy to hack. That baby monitor or security webcam could destroy the sense of privacy one has in their own home, as hackers can leverage these wirelessly-communicating devices to see and hear things not meant for the public.

5 ways to secure your smart home

 

The following 5 tips can help you make your smart home more secure.

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1. Secure network – Most smart devices for homes are connected, and you cannot expect them to be inherently secure. Make sure your Wi-Fi network has strong encryption in place. You should also disable guest logins on the router that hosts your smart home devices. If your router is older, consider getting a newer one, as many more modern routers also have more modern security tools. You should also consider creating two separate networks, both with obscure names. Use one network for general Internet use and the other for your smart devices.

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2. Keep everything up to date – Whether it is the firmware for your router or on your smart appliance, you need to make sure everything is up to date in order to avoid falling prey to security exploits. Schedule regular updates or consider enabling automated updating if your devices support it. You should also research well-known exploits and possible fixes or workarounds.

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3. Firewall – A sophisticated home should have a sophisticated firewall to protect it. Do not rely on security through obscurity. You could very well find your system compromised. Many modern routers come equipped with reasonable firewalls. You could also consider installing a separate device or computer that runs its own open source firewall operating system. Furthermore, if you have the money to afford it, you might also consider using a unified threat management (UTM) appliance.

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4. Disable remote management – If you are not using remote Internet management for a device, disable it. The fewer remote access points you have, the better off you will be. If you do use remote management for any devices, make sure you have a secure connection to them. If possible, use encryption with all your connections. You might even benefit from using a virtual private network (VPN).

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5. Strong passwords – When it comes to IT, weak passwords are still one of the top causes of security breaches. Any device that connects to the network should have some type of authentication and also might connect to your accounts on social media sites or other networks, which also requires authentication. Follow basic password best practices to keep your network secure. Use mixed letters and numbers, mixed upper and lower case and non-dictionary words (in any language).

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For many people, having a smart home might still seem more like science fiction than reality, but the market for smart homes is expected to grow tremendously over the next 6 years. “There is a big difference between the internet of things and other security issues,” warned Joshua Corman of I Am The Cavalry, a group of security specialists trying to promote greater awareness of emerging risks to public safety. “If my PC is hit by a cyber-attack, it is a nuisance; if my car is attacked, it could kill me.”

Just as it is becoming more difficult to find a TV that does not have some “connected” capabilities, there may come a time when home appliances, security systems and other home features are “smart” by default. Therefore, it is a good idea to start to start practicing good security habits now before hacking a smart home becomes more popular in the cyber criminal community.

photo credit: samsungtomorrow via photopin cc

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