Laurie Bauer | Business Development Manager , TW Insurance Brokers

If your home is one of the 2.8 million in Canada that has a smart device , you may be vulnerable to a cyberattack . Smart devices can be used by hackers to find out information that will assist in a robbery , such as when you ’ re away from home or as a backdoor access point into your home network where they can access sensitive information from your phone or computer . Read through our list of tips that will help you secure your smart devices and keep your personal information safe .

Why are smart devices a target ?

Smart devices like speakers , TVs , thermostats , baby monitors , and doorbells can be vulnerable to attack . Most people don ’ t bother to change the default password on their smart devices , making them an easy access point for hackers . Once they ’ ve infiltrated your smart device , hackers can get access to your wireless credentials , see all the information sent over your home network , stop your device from working , or find information stored on the device itself , such as a thermostat timer that indicates when you ’ ll be away from home , photos , recorded audio , your location , and more .

During the COVID-19 pandemic , attacks on objects other than computers that connect to the internet more than doubled compared to months before the pandemic . This is because more people are working remotely and home networks are often less secure .

What can I do to secure my smart devices ?

Luckily , there are a few simple steps you can take to make your smart devices and your home network more secure .

1 . Change your default name and password

A device that still has the default name and password is very vulnerable to be hacked . As soon as you get your new smart device , change the default password to something secure , preferably a mix of letters , numbers , and symbols that would be hard for someone to guess . Remembering all the unique passwords you created for each website and device you use can be a near-impossible task , so consider getting a password manager that will do the work for you .

2 . Apply software updates regularly

Software updates for your smart devices will include security patches , bug fixes , and new security features , so don ’ t put off updating your devices ! If you ’ re worried about the update disturbing your routine , see if there ’ s a setting to run the update when you ’ re sleeping .

50 | arta . net