{"id":13587,"date":"2018-05-01T12:36:08","date_gmt":"2018-05-01T11:36:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.co.uk\/blog\/?p=13587"},"modified":"2019-11-22T10:03:52","modified_gmt":"2019-11-22T10:03:52","slug":"is-your-smart-home-connected-safely","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kaspersky.co.uk\/blog\/is-your-smart-home-connected-safely\/13587\/","title":{"rendered":"Is your smart home connected safely?"},"content":{"rendered":"

As someone of a certain age, I clearly remember being spellbound by two glimpses of the future in the sci-fi movies I used to watch. One was being able to control objects (in the space dome) at the touch of a button \u2013 the two seemingly unconnected. The other was people\u2019s ability to call others via walkie-talkie<\/a>-like handsets, again without a wire in sight.<\/p>\n

Well, yesterday\u2019s fantasy is today\u2019s reality and the stuff of my dreams has come together in the connected home \u2026 available to not only space-walking superheroes but absolutely everybody<\/em>.<\/p>\n

The converging technologies of mobile apps, the internet and not sci-fi<\/em>, but Wi-Fi<\/em>, means that we all have the ability to monitor and control our enabled heating, lighting, security \u2013 even refrigerators and kids\u2019 toys \u2013 from anywhere via our mobile devices. Your home may be in Peckham, but you could turn up your heating thermostat from Penang.<\/p>\n

In cybersecurity we have a rule of thumb that states the easier you make something to use, the less secure it becomes. You also need to remember that digital technology (which is what the connected home and wider \u2018internet of things\u2019 rely on) depends on the transmission of data. And data \u2013 a precious commodity to us and the companies who make your smart devices \u2013 is invaluable to the less honest inhabitants of the internet.<\/p>\n

What are the possibilities?<\/em><\/h3>\n

Having your burglar alarms, cameras, door locks and security lighting disabled \u2013 and spyware, ransomware<\/a> or some other nasty installed on your network \u2013 are all possibilities. It has also been known for babysitting cameras and kids\u2019 smart toys to be hacked<\/a>, via their accompanying apps and your Wi-Fi. And whilst the data transmitted back by your products is used by manufacturers to improve their products and develop new ones, it can also be exploited to target you in marketing campaigns. Innocuous enough, you say, but if that data falls into the wrong hands, it could become a weapon for financial, identity and even more sinister types of crime.<\/p>\n

In 2015, the accounts of more than 6.3 million children were affected by a data breach at toy company Vtech<\/a>, giving the perpetrator access to photos and chat logs. In a statement, a Vtech spokesperson said: \u201cNo company that operates online can provide a 100% guarantee that it won\u2019t be hacked.\u201d Very true, actually. But even your own Wi-Fi, if not secured, could reveal far more than you\u2019d wish anybody to know.<\/p>\n

What can you do?<\/h3>\n

If you already know about how the careful creation and guarding of your passwords \u2013 and updating your software and apps \u2013 can protect you on your computer and mobile devices, you\u2019re halfway to protecting your connected home. But just to be sure, as part of our Your Connected Home<\/em> awareness campaign, we\u2019ve put together some expert, easy-to-follow tips:<\/p>\n