5 Cybersecurity Risks in Today’s Smart Homes

A home is supposed to be the safest and most comfortable place for every person. They (homes) have evolved to incorporate technology and enforce security for homeowners. However, smart homes are now exposed to a security threat.

Smart homes depend on IoT (Internet of Things). All the devices used in a smart home use a protocol to ensure that they are connected to the internet. They collect information from homeowners and store it in the cloud.

Can you imagine someone else getting access to all this data? If something like that happens, then you could be left exposed. Your personal data can be used illegally, leaving you in a terrible situation.

As a smart homeowner, here are some cybersecurity risks you need to be aware of;

Location Tracking

Your residential area is supposed to be private information. You share this information with just a few of your friends or family members. However, how secure is this information especially for those living in smart homes?

The devices used in smart homes are connected to the GPS, or the Global Positioning System. This is a tracking system that can be used to detect where your home is located. This information is, however, private.

Unfortunately, it is stored in the cloud. A hacker just needs to gain access to the GPS database to locate your home. 

They can even access your mobile devices and monitor your every move. If someone wants to break into your home, they already know where it is. With your mobile device location, they also know when you are home and when you are not.

Identity Theft

As technology advances, so do cybercriminals’ techniques to hack into systems. Even though smart homes are using advanced devices, you need to worry about the techniques they use to gain access to your data.

This is one of the reasons why you have to learn about the importance of data security when learning how to become a cyber security engineer. Cybercriminals know that your service providers have your personal data.

They, therefore, hack into your smart home devices in a bid to gain access to the service providers’ database. This gives them access to your personal information. With such information, they can get things like bank accounts, social security numbers, and credit card information and use it for unauthorized transactions.

Monitoring and Spying

Audio and video recording is one of the most critical functions in every smart home. They (smart homes) use security cameras to record everything that is happening in a bid to enhance security. This happens around the clock, even when homeowners are away.

Apart from surveillance cameras, smart homeowners also use audio devices such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant. These devices can record everything that is said at home. However, you do not have to worry not unless there is a security breach.

Monitoring and spying come in when there is a security breach. Cybercriminals can access these audio devices and security cameras and manipulate them to do what they want. This way, they will hear and see what you do. This information can be used against you.

Data Manipulation

As discussed above, smart homes use security cameras to keep an eye on the home and its surroundings even when homeowners are away. However, this is not a guarantee for security with modern cybercriminals.

This is because of data manipulation. How important is data collected through your security cameras when a cybercriminal can alter it to anything that they want?

Well, most smart home devices do not encrypt data when transmitting it. This makes it easy for an intruder to break into your home without you noticing or having any evidence on your security cameras. All they do is manipulate the data to replace the evidence with a different version.

Access to Third-Party Applications

A smart home allows homeowners to control their homes from anywhere they are using mobile applications. For instance, you can turn your lights on or off even when you are at work. You can even access live footage even when you are miles away.

However, most of these apps are not secured well. This opens a window for hackers to gain access to your device and control it as well as your home. They can, for instance, turn off your security cameras without you knowing.

When this happens, cybercriminals will be able to access anything they want in your home or even your device. By the time you realize what is happening, you might find yourself in a situation that leaves you in danger.

Technology advancement has provided homeowners with different solutions to make their lives easier. However, you need to think about cybersecurity risks when investing in a smart home.