Internet of Things at home is a blessing that has gained massive traction among homeowners. The reason is quite simple, it offers convenience and savings without doing much. Transforming your traditional home to a smart home makes your life easier.
However, you have to pay the price, as it is vulnerable to many security and privacy threats. Cox offers high-speed internet along with security to keep you safe and protected all the time. The best part is you can also incorporate Cox internet security free of cost to secure your devices. For more info and details about plans and packages, you can contact cox communications en español for concerns and assistance.
Hackers and scammers are always looking for loopholes to break into your personal and private information.
If you have or are planning to change your traditional home to a smart home, make sure to read the article. We will discuss some of the ways to encrypt the internet of things. But before we start, let’s take a look at what IoT security means.
What is IoT Security?
The mechanism of securing and protecting internet devices and networks from all sorts of breaches and threats. The internet of things devices are increasingly becoming popular both on commercial and residential levels. However, when it comes to residential purposes, most people are unaware of how important it is to protect your IoT network from all sorts of breaches and threats. If you are one of those, make sure to take IoT security seriously. You cannot even think of what could happen if an intruder breaks into your system.
Setting up the Router Properly
The Wi-Fi router is the core of your smart home. You don’t want any hacker to break in to cause any hiccups or vulnerabilities. The best approach is to create a secure home starting from your router settings. For instance, changing the default router’s name would help secure your home network. If the hackers know the model and manufacturer, they would easily access the login and password to break into your smart home network. Change its default name and make it unique that isn’t associated with any of your personal information.
Set a Unique Password
Changing the name is one part of securing your network. Don’t forget to change the password as well and devise a unique one. Make sure to take the help of online tools to generate a strong password. Or if you want to have your own, make sure to use capital and small letters along with special characters and numbers. Most people choose a password that can be guessed easily. Don’t make the mistake.
Use a High Level of Encryption
If you want to secure your smart home, you need to ensure the highest level of encryption. For now, WPA2 is at the highest level while WPA3 is just about to set foot at a later time. If you have an old router, it may support WEP or WAP protocols. It is finally time for an upgrade. You can find plenty of routers available on the market such as TP-link, Nighthawk, Asus, Netgear, and many more.
Dedicate a Separate Wi-Fi Network for Smart Devices
The majority of modern routers offer you the ability to set up a secondary network. If you are running a smart home, make sure to create a dedicated network for all of your IoT devices. It can prevent hackers and stalkers from intruding on your network.
Disable Features that aren’t Needed
The majority of IoT devices allow you to control any part of the world. However, if you use a home network, make sure to disable remote access. You also need to disable features that aren’t in use such as voice-controlled speakers, Google Assistant, or Siri. Sometimes hackers or intruders can hack into your system and cause disruption in your smart devices.
A small number of IoT devices can only connect to the control network, while others are significantly smarter. The smarter the device, the bigger the threat it possesses. When connecting your smart device, make sure to connect carefully. Smart speakers are vulnerable to security threats. For instance, if you have connected your smart door locks and security devices to voice assistants, some hacker would easily open the doors and get into your house by saying Ok Google. You can’t afford to bear these sorts of threats especially if you are away from home most of the time.
Keep Software Updated
Software updates are not only meant to add features to your existing smart devices. In fact, it would eradicate any sorts of bugs and security patches that could lead to hacking and security threats. Don’t delay software updates as it might lead the network to attacks, particularly when they are connected to the network all the time.
Summing Up
When it comes to the internet of things or smart devices, you have to make sure that the security aspect should be taken seriously. For households, the susceptibility to threats and hacking is too high. Follow the aforementioned tips to make your IoT devices and smart homes secure and protected from any attacks.