Smart Homes Have Become a Target for Cyberattacks
A smart home — the connection between devices — brings more comfort and control to residences. However, it also expands the risk of cyberattacks. These threats can put personal information and privacy itself at risk
Moreover, the smart home is already a constant in society. It gains ground both in new residences and in existing ones. The concept behind a smart home is to automate tasks and devices. Therefore, the goal is to deliver more convenience, security, and efficiency in the palm of your hand.
In practice, the options in a smart home include:
What a smart home controls
– Lighting and temperature control, through smart bulbs and thermostats;
– Smart switches, connected to each other via smartphone or voice assistant;
– Motion sensors to automate tasks, such as turning on the lights;
– Security cameras, which allow you to monitor the house remotely;
– Smart locks, based on biometrics, smartphones, or passwords;
– Entertainment through audio and video systems, which can be played remotely;
– Turning devices on or off, from a coffee maker to the heating system.
An expanding market — and a target
Therefore, these many possibilities point to a clear trend. Moreover, they show why the number of connected devices keeps growing year after year.
A study by IDC, for example, already showed that movement. In 2021, the number of smart devices installed in homes rose 11.7% against 2020. That year, 895 million devices went into making homes smarter. Since then, the installed base has only grown.
Likewise, the global smart home market remains in full expansion. Estimated at US$ 86.48 billion in 2020, it should reach US$ 380 billion by 2030, according to the consultancy Fortune Business Insights. In addition, the Matter standard made cross-brand integration far easier. As a result, more devices join the same home network.
As a result, this whole operation depends on device interconnectivity, within the Internet of Things concept. In other words, devices connect to each other and exchange information. That is what enables automation for users – something pursued across several areas, including the public sector.
Meanwhile, according to Statista, there was a significant jump. Between 2018 and 2022, attacks on Internet of Things devices went from 32.7 million to 112.3 million per year. However, the absolute number matters less than the trend. After all, every new device widens the home’s exposed surface.
In short, Brazil is one of the countries where this practice is most common. This growth reflects the rising number of devices on the planet. Moreover, it reflects how criminals see the available opportunities. After all, many devices still ship with default passwords and never receive an update.
A new risk
The integration a smart home provides depends on the devices that control access. In this case, we mean smartphones, tablets, laptops, and voice assistants. In other words, if that access falls into the wrong hands, the risk is high. Theft of personal information can follow, and even footage of the family routine.
After all, imagine that someone gains access to your network, even without credit cards available. That person can cause major disruption to your routine. This includes turning devices on or off at random. Moreover, compromised devices are often recruited into botnets used against third parties.
In addition, a 2023 Kaspersky study highlighted important security issues. The focus is on people who buy devices for connected homes:
– 56% worried about someone hacking their internet connection. That applies above all to baby monitors and surveillance cameras.
– 54% of millennials appeared as the group most attentive to cybersecurity. Moreover, they were looking for measures to reduce risk.
– 56% of those investing in connected devices saw themselves as responsible for protecting the home.
– 34% believed that buying from known manufacturers already guarantees digital protection. In practice, however, user configuration remains decisive.
In practice, it is worth recalling far more specialized sectors, such as industry. Not even they manage to stop every malicious initiative. In the case of the smart home, the risks are even greater. After all, no security team watches over a residence.
Best practices to avoid risks
Therefore, a few habits should become part of the routine to avoid these dangers. It is important to teach them to everyone living in the house. The same goes for anyone who has the passwords. In this way, threats go down:
Habits that shield the smart home
– Seek guidance from specialized companies and professionals. They can point out the best practices that fit your scenario.
– Keep the screen lock active on smartphones, computers, and tablets. In this way, a lost device does not become the key to your house.
– Be even more careful with accounts that hold administrator-level access. After all, a breach at that point opens the whole system.
– Use strong, unique passwords for each service, preferably with a password manager. Moreover, enable MFA on the account that controls the automation. Where supported, prefer passkeys.
– Change the router’s default username and password. Likewise, use WPA3 whenever possible and create a separate network just for IoT devices.
– Keep the firmware of the router and devices up to date. In addition, avoid exposing cameras directly to the internet.
– Rely on security software for computers and smartphones. It should be updated frequently to reduce vulnerabilities.
As you can see, threats come from both the virtual and the physical world. An unlocked phone left behind can compromise the entire house. The same applies to theft and robbery.
Likewise, the comfort of automation results in greater exposure to risk. Therefore, the family needs to stay attentive to how devices are used.