Connected Home Devices; what are the Risks

RapidVPN/ September 14, 2017/ Blog/

Connected home devices are quickly gaining traction across the globe thanks to Internet of Things technology. You can now direct a coffee machine to prepare a cup of coffee for you using your smartphone. There are a dozen of different home devices that you can invest in and connect to the internet to make your home smart.

However, there are a number of risks that are associated with connected home devices that you should know. Let us look at these risks briefly.

Unsecure Data

According to an article posted on Digital Care Org, all connected home devices transmit data. Have you ever asked yourself when this information goes? Unfortunately, there is no robust security firewalls to ensure that this information does no leak to the public. Marketers can use it to bombard you with ads.

Hacking Risks

Currently, there is no IoT data security encryption yet but that is expected to change soon as more companies invest in this technology. What this this means is that data can be hacked and used to control the connected devices remotely. For instance, if you can access the internet used to connect the devices and intercept the data transmitted, you can take full control of the devices such as switch of security cameras, turn off lights and the list is endless.

A statement made by Federal Trade Commission and posted on New York Times, any device that is connected to the internet is can be hijacked and manipulated to do various desired actions. The statement further says that the risk of unauthorized access increases as more and more devices are connected to the internet.

Spyware Risks

A spyware is software that is discreetly connected to a computer and used to access personal information without raising an alarm. Connected devices can be attached by such software and used to bleach the security and privacy of premises. In the recent past, a baby-monitoring camera in a daycare was hacked and used to display obscene content to the kids.

Concisely, connected security cameras inside and outside your home can be intercepted and used to monitor your movements as well as collect personal information. For example, a camera installed in your home office and connected to the internet can be used to monitor everything that you do on your computer. If you are fond of making purchases online, the hacker can take note of your bank account, passwords, and credit card number and use it to commit crimes online and offline.

Secure Works recommend distributing security patches to all connected devices in your home and implementing secure coding standards to lower the risk of hacking. Security vulnerability tests should also be done regularly.