How to Protect Your Smart Home from Hackers

Modern houses are nowadays “everything-tech,” and even though it’s a modern marvel, there is a lot that can go wrong with it. With that said, this guide will show you how to protect your smart home using several simple but effective methods. 

There are millions of people who own houses that are controlled by voice commands or by simply tapping a feature on their phones. Most smart homes use technology to turn the lights on and off, adjust the thermostat to the perfect temperature, stream your favorite music with a simple voice command, and so much more. 

Our homes are transforming into smarter, more responsive, and more convenient spaces. But with new digital intelligence comes an onset of vulnerabilities. The very devices that make our lives easier can, if left unguarded, open doors to hackers.

There are many cases nowadays regarding hackers breaking in by hacking into smart cameras or disabling electronic door locks. However, before you start disabling and unplugging everything and moving back to simpler times, you should know there are ways to prevent hackers from invading your smart home.

 Securing your smart house doesn’t require professional help; it’s about learning the best security practices. Let’s walk through some practical, powerful steps you can take to protect your smart home devices from hackers. 

How to Protect Your Smart Home (Security Measures)

Just because hacking a home system is doable does not mean you need to start replacing your home’s locks with manual ones. There are several ways to prevent hackers or cybercriminals from invading your home’s infrastructure. Let’s begin with: 

Your Wi-Fi Router is the Foundation of Being Hacked

Your home WiFi network is the center of your home. Through its connection, you get access to your online bank accounts, your smart devices, and more. A Wi-Fi router is also a main target of cybercriminals. Think of it as the main gate to your entire digital property. If that gate is not sturdy, it won’t matter how strong the locks on your devices are. This is why securing your WiFi router should be of the highest priority. Here’s what you should do:

Change the Default Password

This is one of the simplest but most important security measures. When you buy a router, it always comes with a generic default username and password. The most common is usually “admin/password,” and it’s pretty well-known to everyone, especially hackers. To ensure your Router is secure, create a unique, strong password that you’ve never used anywhere else. However, ensure that it doesn’t contain your name, your birth date, or anything publicly available. 

Rename Your Network

Apart from a strong password, you need to rename your network, specifically if the name is something simple, like “TheJohnFamilyWiFi” or one that contains your home address. With a name like that, hackers can easily guess your network password. Always choose a router network name like “FBI_Surveillance_Truck_3” or something similar. It is not only funny but also makes a hacker think twice about a break-in. 

Enable Strong Encryption

Another necessary step to create a more secure WiFi is to open your router’s settings via a web browser and ensure your network is using WPA2 or WPA3 encryption. This helps scramble all data that flows through your network. It helps make it incredibly difficult to intercept. You can also use the best router VPN to double up on the encryption. 

Create a “Guest Network”

To divert attention from your main home network, try creating a guest network. This is one of the most effective security moves you can make. Create a separate guest network for your visitors, smart devices, and even your kids’ gadgets. This creates an illusion, and if a less-secure smart plug is compromised, the hacker is trapped on the guest network. They won’t be able to access the computers and phones on your main network where your sensitive data is stored.

Securing All Your Smart Devices

Now that you’ve secured the main heart that connects everything, you need to build up the security for your smart devices. Here’s what you should do: 

Password-Protect Your Devices

Most people often create passwords that are easy to remember, and often use the same password for all devices and accounts. It’s true that managing different passwords can be a little bit of a hassle. However, using the same simple password for your smart lightbulb, your security camera, and your email is one of the worst decisions you could make. One small hack can suck all your assets dry. This is where using the best password manager comes into play. With FastestPass, you can generate and store complex, unique passwords for every single device and its apps. If one service is breached, the damage is still manageable.

Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Every time your device and its services prompt you to enable two-factor authentication, you need to consider it; it’s there for a reason. With 2FA enabled, you will be asked to approve a login via text or email after you’ve entered your password. It’s necessary because even if a hacker enters a compromised password, they will still need to confirm the authentication, which is something only you will have access to. 

Update Your Smart Devices

If your device, apps, etc., are all prompting you to update the device’s firmware, versions, etc., it is asking for a reason. It not only contains newer features, but most often comes with critical security patches that fix vulnerabilities. These loopholes are exactly what hackers are looking for. Ensure that you make it a habit to check for updates monthly, or enable automatic updates wherever possible. It’s the best maintenance practice. 

Clean Up Your Devices

Go through your smart home apps and review which devices and third-party services have access. Revoke access for anything you no longer use. That random smart fitness app you tried two years ago doesn’t need to be connected to your Google or Amazon account anymore. Minimizing these connections shrinks your chances of being hacked or attacked. 

Frequently Asked Questions

To Conclude

Now that you know which areas of your home security need paying attention to, you can easily protect your smart home. However, always understand that technology can only do so much; you need to do the rest. Firstly, always research before you buy any smart devices. Not all of them are designed with higher levels of security. Plus, don’t just buy it because it came at a good price. 

Next, always think about what you say around your smart device assistants, like Alexa. While it’s unlikely anyone is constantly listening, these devices are designed to wake up to a “wake word.” 

Avoid having sensitive conversations right next to them, and regularly review and delete your voice history from the companion app if that feature makes you uncomfortable.

Lastly, the first sign of a compromised device is unusual behavior. If you see your smart devices flickering or turning on and off on their own, mark that as unusual behaviour. Don’t just shrug it off; look into it. It could be a glitch or a red flag. Try rebooting the device, and if the behavior continues, reset it and check its security settings.