Safeguard your sensitive information at home.

From smart fridges to smart TVs to smart thermostats, the average American home is full of internet-connected devices and appliances.  While this technology makes life more convenient, it can also leave you vulnerable to major cybersecurity risks.  To ensure that your private information stays safe, here are some of the security measures to employ.

  • Set Up a Separate Network for Smart Home Devices

Most homeowners use their home’s main Wi-Fi network to run everything from personal computing devices to appliances like smart fridges.  Because smart appliances and other home automation devices have fewer security measures in place, a hacker can use these weak links to access your home’s main Wi-Fi network.  This, in turn, threatens more important items like your computers, laptops, smartphones, and so on.  To protect the information stored on your personal computing devices, you should set up a separate network specifically for your smart home appliances.  This way, if a hacker does target these less-secure devices, the devices containing sensitive information remain secure.

  • Use Unique Logins for Each Device

Many homeowners make the mistake of securing all their devices with the same username and password combo.  This is risky because as soon as a hacker breaks one device, they can access all your other ones.  The best way to prevent this from happening is by creating unique usernames and passwords that incorporate a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.  Security experts also recommend leaving identifying information out of your login credentials.  For instance, your usernames and passwords should not include your name, address, contact information, birthday, and so on.

  • Switch Off Cameras and Microphones on Your Devices

Many smart TVs and voice-controlled devices have cameras and microphones that can record you without your knowledge.  If a hacker gains access to these devices, then they can secretly watch and listen to you and your family.  To prevent this terrifying scenario, make sure that you always manually switch off the cameras and microphones on your devices when they are not in use.  To take things a step further, consider covering the cameras on your devices when they are not in use.

These are some of the steps that you should take to protect your private information at home.  Want another way to make your home safe for yourself and your loved ones?  Then make sure you have the right homeowners insurance protections in place.  For assistance with all your home coverage, contact the experts at Scautub Agency in Scotia, New York, today.