4 tips for Embracing Smart technology safely

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The world of home security is changing rapidly. Not so long ago, people would leave their doors unlocked, and having cameras at home was for businesses or high-end houses only. But the invention of affordable home security systems has changed the way that people protect their property. The price of smart technology devices reduced in the early 2000s, and it’s no longer uncommon to see a video doorbell as you walk down the street.

Home security can be useful for deterring criminals, and helps give homeowners peace of mind that their property is secure – as well as knowing they’ll have evidence should anything bad happen. But smart home security isn’t infallible, and some people are concerned about having a lot of their private information on a network connected app. Here, we take a look at the steps you can take to keep your home information safe and private.

Use strong passwords

Whilst the name of your first pet combined with your birthday might be easy for you to remember, the chances are that it's just not that secure. It’s also likely that you’ve used that password for something else, so if a hacker gets hold of it, you’ll be vulnerable on several devices or accounts. If you’re going to think of your passwords yourself, the key is to think of a phrase or word that means something to you, so that you’ll remember it, but isn’t widely known.

Alternatively, use a password generator to create a long, complex password, and then save it in a secure password manager app. This way, you only have to remember the master password, or use your biometrics. The manager will also prompt you to change your passwords several times a year.

Use two-factor authentication

The most secure process for any password-authentication is to use two-factor authentication. This means that you first need to enter the password, and then either approve the login on another device, approve via email or enter a code from a generator app on your phone. The idea behind this is that even if your password was compromised, you’d be able to stop hackers gaining access by declining the login.

You may think that it sounds like another time-consuming step, but taking a few more seconds to log in can create a valuable level of security that you’ll be grateful for, should something happen. Two-factor authentication isn’t available on all devices yet, but it’s becoming more common.

Check app permissions

When setting up smart technology control apps, it can feel easiest to just accept all permissions and click ‘continue’ in fast succession to get the device up and running. But doing so means you may have granted permissions for something that you’re not comfortable with.

Common settings to look out for include location tracking, and who has access to the device. This can be crucial for when you move home too, as you should ensure that the old owners don’t still have access to devices that they included in the sale.

Avoid using public WiFi

When you’re out and about, you may log on to public WiFi to save using your cellular data. But it’s best to avoid doing this and then logging into the apps for your smart home devices if possible, as public WiFi is much easier to hack than mobile data.

Quick activities like locking smart locks or activating a smart light routine won’t use up much data, so try and use your phone where you can. If you can’t avoid using public WiFi, then it’s worth considering using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) to encrypt your data, to make it more secure.