How to keep your smart home safe?
In the world of Internet of Things (IoT), everything is connected to promise people a smart life at home. By 2020, the average home will have more than 35 connected devices predicted by Cisco VNI Report. Internet-connected devicesare aimed to grant you greater efficiency and convenience; swiping your smartphones, smart lighting, air conditioners and door locks are all under control. Nevertheless, the connectivity opens the door for unwanted guests - cyberattacks.
Some IoT devices are vulnerable, running with no sufficient embedded security measures or up-to-date patch updates and thus undoubtedly become the primary targets of attacks. Malware Mirai attacked tens of thousands of IP cameras and Wi-Fi routers. On the other hand, bad user habits, such as some users never change the default passwords, also pave easier ways for attackers to gain access.
Malicious software not only puts the hacked devices out of operation and use them to spy on their owners at home, it can even perform DDoS attacks. Consequently, how to enjoy the convenience brought by IoT devices while minimising potential security risks becomes a topic that receives growing attention
Routers are the gateway that all internet traffic headed to the connected devices have to go through; cyberattacks are no exceptions. Thus, using a secure router which helps protect the internet-connected devices can further helps guard internet security. For instance, choosing routers with frequent patch updates since cyberattacks evolve with time.
WiFi security should be taken into consideration since it can avoid the interception of wireless data. To enhance WiFi security, WPA3 was launched by Wi-Fi Alliance. Routers with the latest WPA3 certification are good picks, which is the security protocols launched by featuring enhanced protection for your network against snooping and other attacks.
Some advanced and secure routers on market offer users deeper visibility into device traffic with an intuitive interface compared with traditional one. In this way, you have a better understanding of what happens in your networks, including abnormal increase in web traffic, block accessing a malicious site, or suspicious traffic when everyone is supposed to be asleep. Abnormal increase in web traffic may arise from ransomwares while web traffic during the abnormal time means your devices may be used or even controlled by others secretly.
Some advanced routers can block users to visit malicious websites with built-in Google Safe Browsing integration and a constantly updated database. Some can inspect incoming and outgoing traffic of your network, and drops any malicious packets detected. Those features may be targeted for business users in the past, but now more vendors answer the same needs from home users with more streamlined and intuitive user interfaces. Some routers are expected to be integrated with mobile devices, so users can protect and monitor their network security anytime, anywhere, ensuring they are masters to guard smart homes away from unwanted cyber threats.
To keep your smart home safe in the world of IoT, we strongly suggest you to check your gateway - router is secure and take the above measurements to protect your home from cyberattacks.