In a world rapidly filling with smart appliances, homes, and cars, staying connected and secure at the same time is becoming increasingly more difficult. The number of phishing campaigns and the latest breaches have made identity theft a top concern, especially after news of the Equifax breach, and smart homes are another opening for risk.
Here are some steps you can take to keep your information and home safe from outside access.
Add another network to your home
Keep your internet browsing separate from your non-entertainment devices, like your Alexa or Google Home. By using separate networks, you lower your risk of a breach via your personal computer or smartphone.
It may also be worth investing in a virtual private network (VPN) or a better firewall if you’re using your smart devices to store personal or financial information.
Keep your devices updated
Make sure all your devices are set up to regularly run patches and updates. If you’re a chronic “Restart later” button pusher, you’re opening your technology up to hackers by not patching known vulnerabilities.
Research how your device manufacturers recommend running updates, so you can make sure your smart home stays smart, instead of becoming a security risk.
Be aware of who has access to your smart devices
It may sound obvious, but many never think about how anyone with physical access to their devices can open them up to a security breach.
Be aware of who is using your devices and how they’re using them. A roommate or child lowering security settings in order to download third-party software can open that device (and others connected to it) up to hackers.
Buy from trusted brands
While you don’t have to drop a significant amount of money on the top brand in the market, there is a lot to be said for purchasing from a big brand. The bigger brands have lots of money invested in the security of their connected devices because their name and reputation are on the line, so spending more for one can be worth it.
Whatever brand you go with, research their security reputation and how they keep their devices secure before purchasing.
Let’s Talk
Looking for other ways to keep your information secure in the new age of ransomware? Check out our free webinar on-demand.
About the Author – Tyler Priest is the Junior Systems Administrator at Rocket IT. His first hobby turned into his career, and so now he’s looking for the next!. He likes to collect all kinds of music from vinyl to tapes and CDs. Tyler lives in Barrow County with his fiance and a menagerie of pets.
