connected-home safety risks

Can smart tech threaten your home?

Hacker skills

Just about every device that maintains a persistent connection to the internet is, or will be, a target for hackers. Not necessarily in a malicious context – usually, the challenge for the hacker is simply to gain full access to a device to be able to run commands on it; they’re unlikely to be able to glean much useful personal information from your connected lamp. Embedded software lockouts mean the vast majority of device hacks must be performed on the device directly, usually by disassembling it and probing its circuitry.

The dangers

Your lamp might not be a target, but there are devices in your home that could be. IP cameras, for instance, could give criminals information about your comings and goings, or the kit that’s in your home; your coffee maker, if properly compromised, could start a fire. But none of these devices will be nearly as interesting to the random attacker as your router is, and if you use them sensibly – never publicly hosting an IP camera next to your personal details, for example – you’re very unlikely to be a target.

Preventative measures

Since direct device access is critical for installing most meaningful hacks, consider very carefully if buying secondhand gear is worth the risk of it coming pre-compromised. Inspect security tabs for signs of entry. Always buy from reputable brands you trust, as that hastily constructed off-brand kit could well have software errors that could be exploited. And, where possible, protect your connected devices with strong passwords.