As more people switch to smart homes, the need for greater security becomes increasingly important. Whether you’re new to the smart home world or a seasoned pro, here are some ways to make your system more secure.
So you’ve made the jump to a smart home – congratulations! While there are many benefits to living in a connected house, adding extra security is one of the most important. Whether you’re just starting or you’ve been using smart devices for a while, here are some tips to help keep your home safe.
Making your home smarter is a great way to improve your quality of life, and with these tips, you can do so while keeping your family and possessions safe. Implementing even just a few of these ideas will give you added peace of mind and may even save you from a potential disaster down the road.
1. Use Stronger Passwords
One of the most important ways to make your smart home more secure is by using stronger passwords. While using the same password for all your devices may be tempting, this is not recommended. Instead, you should create unique, strong passwords for each device and change them regularly. You can use a password manager to help keep track of your passwords and make them stronger.
2. Ensure Your Router is Set Up Correctly
One of the most important things you can do to keep your smart home secure is to ensure that your router is configured correctly. Many people don’t bother changing the default password or username on their router, which makes it easy for hackers to gain access. Take the time to change your password and ensure it’s something strong and unique. You should also disable any remote management features enabled by default on most routers. These features make it easy for someone to remotely control your router, which could give them access to your entire network.
3. Update Your Devices Properly
You may need to update the firmware on your Wi-Fi router yourself. This is often done to improve security, and you must do it.
Therefore, make sure you do a manual check once or twice a year and install any pending firmware updates as soon as possible. Many IoT devices (and their applications) don’t update automatically but instead notify you to do so when it is time. Don’t put things off — update right away.
4. Disable the Features You Don’t Use
One of the best things you can do to make your home more secure is to disable any features you’re not using. For example, if you don’t use the voice control feature on your smart speaker, then disable it. This will reduce the chances of someone being able to access your home through that particular device.
Another good idea is to disable remote access features you’re not using. If you don’t need to be able to control your devices from outside of your home, then there’s no reason to leave that feature enabled. By disabling it, you’ll make it much harder for someone to gain unauthorized access to your devices.
Conclusion
There are many ways to make your smart home more secure. Following the tips above can help deter burglars and keep your family safe. What’s more, you can also save money on your home insurance premiums.