Know the features that can help keep your smart devices cyber secure

In the past few years,  the number of internet-connected devices in our homes (and on our  bodies has skyrocketed.  From smart thermostats to smart speakers, and even smart watches, internet-connected devices are everywhere.

With all these smart devices around, we should consider how they might leave us vulnerable to cyber attacks.

In this post, we’ll show you how you can get to know the settings on your smart devices that will help you stay more cyber secure.

Why cyber security matters for our smart devices

Smart devices contain information about us – information that, if it were to fall into the hands of a cyber criminal, could lead to us losing our personal information or money.

Like it or not, having smart devices in our homes and on our bodies leaves us vulnerable to attacks from cyber criminals.

For example: A cyber criminal might hack into your network NetworkSeveral computers that are connected to one another. and stop your devices from working (what’s known as a ransomware attack).

On your computer, this might prevent you from accessing files or using the internet. But with so many smart devices connected to your network, the consequences of a ransomware RansomwareRansomware is a type of malware that restricts access to your computer or your files and displays a message that demands payment for the restriction to be removed. The two most common means of infection appear to be phishing emails that contain malicious attachments and website pop-up advertisements. attack in the age of smart devices could be much more dire.

Imagine, for example, not being able to turn on your oven or turn up your thermostat – that’s a far worse outcome than being unable to just use a laptop.

That’s why focusing on cyber security for your smart devices is so important: It helps protect you against cyber attacks that can make it more difficult to live your life securely.

How to keep your smart devices secure

One of the challenges with improving cyber security for our smart devices is that they are so new.

Here’s the good news about smart devices, though: Many of the same tactics and measures that protect your laptop, phone or tablet  also protect your smart devices.

Multi-factor authentication

Multi-factor authentication is one of the best ways to keep any device or account cyber secure.

If any of your smart devices offer two-factor or multi-factor authentication Multi-factor authenticationA tactic that can add an additional layer of security to your devices and account. Multi-factor authentication requires additional verification (like a PIN or fingerprint) to access your devices or accounts. Two-factor authentication is a type of multi-factor authentication. , use it. It’s a great way to ensure cyber criminals won’t be able to get easy access.

Software updates

Smart devices are no different than our laptops or smartphones. They run on software SoftwareA computer program that provides instructions which enable the computer hardware to work. System software, such as Windows, Linux or MacOS, operate the machine itself, and applications software, such as spreadsheet or word processing programs, provide specific functionality. – software that frequently features updates from software developers.

These software updates don’t just feature user experience and design updates, though. They are designed to offer security updates that make access difficult for cyber criminals.

One of the best ways to protect your smart devices – or really any device – is to always keep that software update UpdateUpdates to software and devices add new features, fix bugs, and often contain new security features to protect against attacks. .

It’s the only way to ensure you’re getting the most of what software developers have to offer when it comes to cyber security for your smart devices.

Protect your Wi-Fi

The common element of most smart devices? They connect to the internet through your home’s Wi-Fi.

This is especially the case for smart home devices like kitchen appliances, thermostats or light bulbs.

That makes protecting the network they are on so important.

The good news is that there are a number of relatively simple steps you can take – from giving your router RouterA network device that is used to establish and control the flow of data between different networks. a unique name to changing the default DefaultA setting automatically chosen by a program or computer that remains until the user specifies another setting. password PasswordCombination of letters and numbers you select to secure an account or device. and setting up a guest network for visitors to use – to keep your Wi-Fi Wi-FiWi-Fi refers to a set of wireless communication protocols that can transmit traffic to Wi-Fi enabled devices within a local area. A Wi-Fi enabled device such as a laptop or tablet can connect to the internet when within range of a wireless network connected to the internet. An area covered by one or more Wi-Fi access points is commonly called a hotspot. secure.

Those steps will go a long way towards protecting all the smart devices in your home.

Conclusion

Smart devices are (relatively) new additions to our lives. But that doesn’t mean we need to feel overwhelmed when it comes to keeping them secure Following these steps will go a long way to ensuring you make a cyber criminal’s attempts to hack into your smart devices look dumb.