As a smart homeowner, you are used to calling for ‘Alexa,’ ‘Google,’ and ‘Siri’ way more than you think. From the briefest need to extensive research, smart assistants can help with everything. However, when it comes to cybersecurity, things get a bit more complex. And no matter how nifty, these tools can’t offer maximum security. So how do we ensure cybersecurity in smart homes? The answer lies in this blog! We have compiled all the vital information to educate you on the subject. Let’s get started. 

Introduction 

What makes a home ‘Smart:’ Is it the presence of digital devices or an arsenal of appliances? The answer is ‘both.’ A smart home is filled with devices that share, process, and present data using internet connections.  The remote accessibility and features allow people to monitor and manage tasks across their residences. Popular IoT smart devices include TVs, phones, watches, speakers, fitness products, refrigerators, home security, robots, vehicles and more. 

Remember that these devices must follow the IoT protocols to work desirably. With the right hardware, you can have convenience and safety altogether. But that’s not all. In today’s age, running a smart home isn’t easy; there are many issues and privacy concerns to consider.  

Understanding Smart Home Vulnerabilities

We know what facilities smart homes possess, but what about the vulnerabilities that go hand in hand? According to an article by Investopedia, common threats include malware, DDoS attacks, hacking, data breaches, and more. Plus, all these devices are expensive and require the user to have digital literacy. The wrong usage can do more harm than good. Many case studies teach us how negligence can impact relevant usage. 

In ‘The digital harms of smart home devices,’ a 2023 study, we find many such case reports. Whether it’s the Mirai Botnet incident or home monitoring footage being exploited, we see all the things that can go wrong with IoT home devices. Similarly, cyber violence and cyberporn are also some of the harmful consequences of poor security. 

Securing Your Home Network

Before we jump in, here’s a sincere tip, find yourself a reliable internet provider. The safer, the better. By acquiring internet services from a reliable provider, you can reduce cybersecurity issues considerably. You can go with Xfinity internet plans (safest option) or choose any other provider with high-end internet security.

The next step: encrypting your connection. You can implement the widely recommended password and verification settings. It’s the same as physically securing your home, only the efforts are digital. 

FTC advises you to set up a guest network for IoT devices and routers. Not only will this limit the user pool but also prevent the undetected malware from traveling to your primary connection and systems. Kaspersky says that using VPNs can provide the extra layer of protection needed. Not only does it alter your IP information but also encrypts your data in case the connected devices are compromised. Address filtering, disabling remote access, and adding firewalls are some other practices you can add to your cyber defense strategy. 

Best Practices for IoT Device Protection

You don’t need to be a tech-savvy expert to understand and apply these essential practices. 

• A gateway security structure can secure your devices against unwanted viruses, malware, and more. 
• Cloud interfaces, or APIs, distribute and transfer core information between IoT devices and a broken link could compromise data easily, hence needs to be secured. 
• Use a good storage option to keep your data safe, time to ask around, or do some intensive online research. 
• IoT devices are software, just like any other digital system, they need updates. Regular firmware updates will keep the functions strong and sturdy. 
• Device inventory management; get rid of any unused or inactive IoT devices you have lying around. It’s a good cleanup tip but also eliminates the possibility of misuse.
• If nothing makes sense, get in touch with the manufacturers to figure out the issues and necessary actions. 
• If you are in the IT industry, or know someone who is, use the knowledge to find the best possible smart home and cybersecurity solutions. 

Securing Specific Devices

While securing every device in your home is recommended, it can be overwhelming, so let’s focus on a select few. We have narrowed it down to some options that can make or break your smart home firewall. 

Home Security

You should pay special attention to smart cameras, doorbells, and locks. Strong passwords are your new best friend. With a strongly encrypted router, you can build a defense. Install high-quality sensors and detection systems to secure the perimeter around your house. Make sure you download regular updates to fix occasional bugs and minor software problems. To keep your tools competent, you need them fully responsive and at their best. 

Voice Assistants

The walls have ears, and so do voice assistants. These little guys aren’t as harmless as you think. While voice assistants have been designed for our convenience, there’s a lot of data that goes into their performances. Before subscribing to any service or purchasing a voice assistant, carefully scroll through the user policies and conditions. Read through the manual and find out what they will be detecting, recording, and reporting. Especially pay attention to the warnings to know where they may fall short. On your end, here’s what you can do:

• Familiarize yourself with how things work 
• Track the activation and listening pattern
• Erase any old data and recordings periodically 
• Use separate reliable credentials for each device 
• 2FA is the key to resilient responses 
• Remember the accounts integrated with your VA

Geofences and Appliances

Another factor in your smart home is such automation devices. A lot of the above-mentioned tips apply to this category but here’s some additional food for thought:

• Research manufacturers thoroughly and rely on reviews from people
• Always monitor the things you buy and assess their usage 
• Explore how they make your lifestyle better along with any possible cons 
• Is the tracking process smooth, if yes, how can it be a weakness?
• Which devices are vulnerable to Bluejacking?
• Protect the relevant devices with proper security measures 
• Verify and strengthen your firewall 

The Role of IoT Security Software

For a smart-home device, the constant usage and exposure can be very dangerous. They are always ready to store information and perform as required. So, you need to choose carefully. A robust system with secure features can help safeguard them against a majority of threats. This is why we also need to be careful about any third-party apps and extensions. And since there’s a web of devices communicating with each other, the problems can also transfer. Especially home security essentials and Bluetooth items. If you want to take things a step further, do a brief risk assessment test for each smart device you own. 

Smart home products are designed with residential use in mind, which is why they are a lot simpler to operate than industrial ones. But it doesn’t make them infallible. The best way to protect your home is by knowing the devices that help you run it. Gaining enough awareness means not only are you more prepared for the bad things but also possess the skills to counter them. Hence, it’s wise to invest in monitoring strategies and set up alerts for suspicious activity. IoT firewalls can prove to be highly useful for not only monitoring purposes but also filtering out data based on certain rules. Be sure to design something that suits the architecture of your IoT products and delivers impressive results. 

Looking Ahead: Future of Smart Home Cybersecurity

The core themes behind home automation and security systems are convenience and accessibility. However, recent trends and technologies have introduced a lot of exciting features and uses. Considering the need for smart security, people are making many predictions, such as:

• The healthy integration of AI in cybersecurity and smart home appliances
• A need for better living comfort and lifestyle assessments 
• Boundless connectivity that allows apps and devices to work perfectly
• Enhanced audio/video performance that makes remote work easier 
• Refined home entertainment products 
• Innovative devices with wearable and remote functionality 
• Special focus on improved cybersecurity features 

We can never talk too much about smart homes, how they’ve made things smoother, and what to look forward to. Before we wrap, how about a little recap? Here is what you need to keep in mind:

• Trust no one with your credentials, settings, and access. Observe, understand, and manage things yourself 
• Do a detailed SWOT analysis of everything ‘smart’ you own and how it’s impacting your privacy and security 
• Don’t compromise on router quality and regular updates, it will help fortify things 
• Always research and question the products you plan to buy 
• Install and maintain firewalls to add an extra layer of protection