Your home has just experienced a data breach. It wasn’t from a neighbor stealing wireless internet. It wasn’t from a hacker accessing your Netflix account. It was from your smart razor. Sound far-fetched?
It’s not.
According to May 2018 report by Forbes, cyber thieves were able to gain entry into more than 100 million home automation systems because they discovered a system vulnerability in a smart razor called the Z-Wave.
The Internet of Things (IoT) may let you network multiple devices together, including your smartphone, television, and home automation systems, but it also increases the risk that hackers could breach a single device and access your entire network. This booming market, which Statista projects will reach $470 billion market revenue by 2020, is forecasted to ship more than 90 million units into homes by the end of 2018. In other words, the threat of cyber theft in IoT devices is growing.
Here’s what you need to know about securing your IoT devices.
Protect Your Information and Your Home with These Security-Savvy Recommendations
The industry-leading cyber security solutions company, McAfee, recommends taking specific precautions to keep cyber thieves from hacking IoT devices:
Only Purchase IoT Devices With Built-In Security Features. Some IoT products are prone to glitches, network failures, and system vulnerabilities.
These models haven’t been manufactured to industry-best security standards. Research any device you’re considering adding to your home, including reading online reviews and specifications.
Set Up a Network Specifically for Your IoT Devices.
Your laptops, desktops, and smartphones contain the most sensitive data in your home. Don’t put the valuable information these devices store at risk.
Keep your computers and smartphones on a secure network and then set up a separate guest network just for your IoT devices. Should either network be comprised, less personal data can be stolen. Never retain your networks’ default passwords. Change them at least once a year and use a random password you don’t use on any other account.
Increase Your Network Security. A 2017 Business Wire report claimed that 48 percent of firms using IoT products have experienced least one data breach. This lackluster security resulted in a project 13 percent revenue loss for small to medium-size businesses. To address the growing IoT security threat, the FBI released a Public Service Announcement citing the dangers IoT face and the data transmission they offer through hacked IP addresses.
The PSA read, “IoT proxy servers are attractive to malicious cyber actors because they provide a layer of anonymity by transmitting all Internet requests through the victim device’s IP address.”
Update your system’s firmware, security software, router security, and individual IoT device security. To maintain a safe, connected home or office, you will need to maintain security on multiple fronts.
Keep Your Connected Home Secure. Sign Up for Consolidated Communications’ Residential Internet Today.
Currently, there are more than 5.5 million home automation devices connected across the U.S. This rapidly growing trend promises to integrate your personal and home devices and, with the right security, protect your data. Follow these tips for keeping your connected home secure. Contact Consolidated Communications today to learn more about our residential Internet options.