Gadgets. New gadgets are everywhere, and more appear every day. They can be for home, for work, for your car – there are new gadgets for everything and more and more they are connected. It’s called the Internet if Things (IoT). It’s so easy to say, “Alexa, Heartbreaker by Led Zeppelin” and the guitar starts riffing. But Alexa doesn’t get that song from your hard drive – it’s coming from the internet.
These days everything is smart. You can turn on the house lights from your phone, unlock your front door, start the dishwasher, etc. Even your air purifier knows when the air in the house is going to put a hurt on your sinuses.
With all this connectivity, we tilt the lid back a little more on a potential Pandora’s Box. The question is:
Are smart homes a good idea?
It would seem that the answer would be a resounding ‘YES!’ But why?
1) Convenience. Walking through the house and having doors open and lights turn as you approach is handy. Turning on you’re A/C or heat when you’re on your way home from work beats sweating or shivering for a while when you get there. No doubt: There are many benefits.
2) Conservation. Speaking of A/C and heat, how many people have turned either one on when they left for work – and let it run all day so it would be comfortable when they got home? That is irresponsible these days, not to mention the fact that energy isn’t as cheap as it used to be. Also, if you don’t mind a little external control, SmartGrid.gov suggests the installation of Smart Meters, which enable your energy provider to lessen your power usage during peak hours. So… Big Brother promises to keep you comfortable? Whether you want your local power company turning off your A/C when it’s 100 degrees out is up to you.
It is a fact that smart devices save energy, but how much? Science Direct reports, “A study performed by the HDB and Energy Market Authority Singapore (EMA) showed a reduction of energy consumption by 20% after implementing Home Energy Management System (HEMS).” That’s nothing to sneeze at, but if you do sneeze, ask Alexa to adjust your smart humidifier.
3) Safety. A smart home with an advanced security system uses motion sensors, cameras, wired doors and windows etc. goes a long way toward keeping wolves away from your door. This is a solid plus – as long as your system doesn’t malfunction and keep you out.
4) Insurance savings. More and more Insurance companies are offering better rates for Smart Homes.
5) Enhanced Accessibility. Seniors and the disabled absolutely benefit from a well-planned Smart Home.
How is security achieved in IoT?
If you are unsure of your technological capabilities this might be the pace for a visit from a qualified IT consulting services technician.
There are basic precautions to take:
1) Strong Encryption. Use Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA).
2)Strong Passwords. Do NOT use “123456!”
3) Multi-factor authentication. Password, then a personal question, a code sent to your smartphone, a thumbprint, scan card or retinal scan, among others.
4) Guest Networks. Set it up so that if hackers do manage to breach your guest network, they will not gain entry your main network or your primary internet access. Use this network for any visitors who wish to use your home Wi-Fi.
5) No remote public Wi-Fi. Do not stop outside a Starbucks and use their W-Fi to communicate with your home Smart devices. Hack
6) No router default settings. Change the name and the password of your router. Hackers are often familiar with default settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is smart home technology worth it?
A: It’s subjective. You get a solid financial value from it If saving energy and money is of prime importance. The convenience factor is immeasurable. You get settled in front of the TV, but the lights are too bright – just tell Alexa to dim them. This works the same with a LOT of minor ‘forgot to dos’ – like locking the front door, lowering the garage door, or even making sure the oven is off when you’re taking fresh baked pies to Grandma’s house.
Bear in mind if you have very small children in the house – they will learn that they can tell Alexa what to do…
Q: Is having a smart home safe?
A: We mean safe by Cybersecurity standards. A smart house still can’t prevent someone throwing a rock through your window, but it will cause your alarm to go off.
Home Smartness opens you up to a slew of vulnerabilities. FACT: Once you are connected, crooks know to look for you.
Do IT support experts like smart homes? Ask just about anybody within the Charlotte IT Support community, and it will be rare to find anyone that does NOT have at least a few Smart features in their homes. IT folk LOVE gadgets. But they also know how to protect their IoT devices from cyber criminals.
This is not to say that you will need IT help to set up the security for your smart home, but it would a waste of money. As a Managed IT Services provider, ITFirm.com mostly provides full IT services to businesses on an ongoing basis, but we have provided security measures for consumers on a one-off project basis. Just like a business network, a Smart Home does need proper defenses.
Q: Can people hack into smart homes?
A: YES. Anything can be hacked. There have already been cases of hackers turning the heat up to 100 degrees in the summer and charging a ransom to release control back to you. Follow all of the security measures listed above. It’s not a fault with the smart devices – it’s usually a case of a homeowner not following the initial security protocols or not having a qualified IT services technician set them up.
Q: How do I stop smart home devices from spying on me?
A: This is not a joke or a trick question. Alexa or any counterparts can listen to and transmit your conversations to a 3rd party – as can your smart TV. They can turn on the camera in your laptop or your webcam and any connected microphones.
Your basic protections:
Install a firewall.
Automatically update your devices regularly.
Disable your camera and microphone when not in use.
Regularly delete the data on your Voice Assistant like Alexa.
Turn off the Wi-Fi when you leave the house.
How Secure is your network?
Also, as a longstanding, reputable member of the Charlotte IT Support community, ITFirm.com offers a FREE, no-risk network and Cybersecurity assessment. We perform a non-intrusive scan that allows us to deliver a comprehensive report of the state of your system and its vulnerabilities that is yours to keep. There are no strings attached, and you are under no obligation to ever use our Managed IT Services.
The two best defenses are next-generation Cybersecurity to protect your data from theft, and a top-notch Managed Services Provider to ensure continued reliability and defenses against newly emerging threats.
We put our 100% Money Back Guarantee in writing, so there is no risk in trying us out. Because we do not require a ‘hard’ contract, our clients can fire us at any time with 30 days’ notice. We have to be good.
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