Have you ever watched a horror movie where the hero finds out the bad guy is in the same lonely, house? The “threat within” theme is a good one as you cannot be sure you are safe. In the world of cybersecurity, the danger are all those smart little devices we happily invite into our homes to make our lives easier. If they can be compromised, they the bad guys potentially access to your network, your devices, and your information. Am I being a bit dramatic? Yes, but not much.
Internet of Things (IoT) devices are all the ‘smart devices’ you have in your house. There are so very many devices with connectivity built into them, here are the common ones you will potentially see:
- TVs
- Plugs
- Lights
- Appliances
- Smart Speakers
- Cameras
- Kitchen devices
- Doorbells
- AC units
- Thermostats
- Some stranger ones you might see: Beds, BBQ Grills, Meat Smokers, Lawn sprinklers
If you have an app for a physical device, it almost positively is some sort of connected device therefore it is an IoT device. I have literally been on a business trip thousands of miles away and ‘checked in’ at home by looking at the security camera from 10 time zones away.
The risk from the IoT deices is that a device can be compromised, if that happens then the bad guys can view devices on your network. If they can see devices, they can potentially access those devices. That is how they can gain access to your private information. If you can keep the bad guys out, you can increase your security. Layers of protection are great to keep the baddies out. So, fear not there are many things you can do to really ‘raise the shields’ so to speak. Here are a few things to keep in mind.
Your router is your first layer of defense- Ensuring you have a router that is built for security from a very reputable company. Honestly a web search for “Secure WIFI routers” is good start to educate yourself.
Patch, Patch, Patch– Ensure your devices, your phones and your computers are up to date with manufacturer updates- Do not forget to update your WIFI Routers as well.
Do not share nice- It is possible to share files on your internal network, just do not do that. Use the old fashion “Sneaker net”, that is just use a USB drive that you copy from one device and walk to the next.
Caveat Emptor- Buyer Beware applies for sure before you purchase any device of any kind you really should do the homework on it. Do the research, read up about the company who makes it, read about previous IoT devices they make and see if they have been involved in prior issues.
Monitor your network– Try to keep an eye on activity on your router or Wi-Fi unites
Use passwords for each device- Ensure you have unique passwords for each device, and service separately. Never ever use the default password on these devices, that’s the entry for so many bad guys. You can read about my article here on passwords: https://ericcrichardson.com/2021/01/14/the-gist-of-passwords/amp/
Eric C Richardson 
[…] Today I’ll speak to the connected medical world in which we live and potential risks that you can try to mitigate with planning and vigilance. In many articles I have written I have spoken about Internet of Things (IoT), which are all those connected devices in your household. They make life so much simpler and easier but there are risks, but you can mitigate risk with your connected household devices. See my article on Home cybersecurity risks here: https://ericcrichardson.com/2021/01/28/home-the-cybersecurity-dangers-within/amp/ […]
[…] It is pretty much impossible to get through a day without running into a “smart” device, be it in your home, on your person or moving through your day. Smart homes and smart devices have been subtilty becoming more and more popular. While I have written about some of the risks, which you can mitigate these devices really do make your life easier, they can help you save money or feel more secure. See my article on being cyber safe at home here: https://ericcrichardson.com/2021/01/28/home-the-cybersecurity-dangers-within/amp/ […]