Modern home with smart home technology can be operated with a tablet via touch screen (3d rendering)

Smart homes are all the rage these days. From video doorbells to alarm systems and door locks that can be accessed via mobile phone app, there are all kinds of conveniences that make your home work smarter for you with half the effort on your part.

Those who were around to marvel when “The Clapper” first hit the markets in 1985 no longer even need to clap to turn on or off their lights, much less get up and walk across a room to do it. Today, you can use your mobile phone or speak into a voice-activated device like a television remote or smart speaker to turn on lights, adjust thermostat temperatures, order pizza, or arm your security system.

Before you dive in, though, it’s important to understand that these modern marvels open up homes and households to increasing risks. First, smart homes are only as secure as their connections. Since they operate wirelessly over your home Internet connection, it is essential to make your network as secure as possible. This includes using strong passwords for your home network.

In fact, home routers are common points of entry for criminals interested in taking advantage of home networks. Norton reports that one malware program infected more than half a million routers in 2018 affecting routers in more than 50 countries around the world. This particular bit of malware gained entry through home networks to steal passwords for home security systems, bank accounts, and more.

Second, beyond creating a more secure router, it is equally important to install updates to the system routinely. The updates are designed to prevent potential exploitation of your smart home by hackers. The more devices you have in your home that are connected to the Wi-Fi, the greater your vulnerability. Installing updates to all connected items helps to reduce vulnerability and improve network security.

It doesn’t take a  law enforcement officer to understand the risks involved in a vulnerable home network to theft or bruglary. The smarter your home becomes, thanks to the addition of new tools and services linked to the network, the more important better security for your home network grows.

Smart homes can be fun and convenient. But only if homeowners take appropriate action to make their networks, software, and hardware as secure as possible. The more you know about the risks, the better you can prepare to defend your smart home against them.

 

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Stephen Holm is a professional business consultant who has experience starting and building a business from the ground up. He started off with a strong, foundational education that he obtained by learning from some of the top minds in the industry. He was able to build a successful company that became a leader in the industry before selling it and exploring new opportunities. He has also served as a management consultant, using his diverse experience and strong educational background to help his clients identify new opportunities for revenue growth and expansion. In this manner, he has taken numerous companies from the ground up, helping them reach their full potential. Even though he has retired from the business world, he still likes to keep up with what is happening. He believes that educating his readers helps him keep his mind sharp. Therefore, there is nothing that he likes more than sharing his knowledge with others. With a tremendous amount of experience, he is always able to provide a unique take on what is happening in the business world. This provides every reader with a window into what is happening in global trade, finance, and more. He tries to keep up with some of the latest mergers, acquisitions, and other major deals that are happening in the finance world. Then, he provides a unique take on what this means for the industry. He publishes his articles on some of the biggest business platforms in the world on a regular basis.