I have touched on this in previous articles. Now that there are smart speakers with Alexa, Siri, and Google built in, I thought I’d give you some tips on how you can protect yourself and yourself.
It’s important to recognize that all of your smart devices must go through some kind of router before reaching your device. The router will then allow you to connect via cable or Wi-Fi. however, Wi-Fi is easier and is found on more devices. In either case, make sure your router has a strong password that you created. Make sure you have the highest level of security for your Wi-Fi, such as WPA/WPA2. Also, if your router is more than 5 years old, you should consider replacing it with a new modern router. This will ensure that you are using the latest hardware and software security.
Smart speakers are appearing in homes around the world, they were the best sellers on Amazon this past holiday season. They are good at playing your favorite music and getting better all the time by following your commands. They can control your alarm system and lock and unlock the front door. Before you let Alexa, Siri, or Google open your front door, ask yourself how secure they are. Can they differentiate your voice from the voice of a stranger? What if you walked out of your house and a stranger came to your front door and said “Unlock the door”? Would it unlock? Voice recognition improves every day, so test your device before trusting it.
Do smart TVs track what you watch? The answer is yes, they can. I have written another article explaining how they do this and more importantly how you can stop it.
Do you have cameras inside your house? Many of us do. Ask yourself if they are safe and how do I prevent some clever actor from taking them over? That could put you in a very embarrassing situation.
It’s important to carefully research each new smart device you buy to determine how it works and what data it collects about you. Then secure that device within your home network. If you’re not sure about a particular device, disconnect it from your home network. Remember, most of the devices you have in your home need to go through your router, make sure it is!
