CAN SMART HOMES BE HACKED?

In 2017, consumer watchdog Which? unveiled a report showing some smart tech was vulnerable to hacking. Most issues could only be exploited by physical on-site attacks to older products (literally plugging something into your device), but it still highlights the importance of securing your tech. Here are five key ways to protect your installation:

1 Change the passwords A lot of tech is supplied with weak default passwords (think 0000 or 1234). Update yours with strong versions as soon as they’re out of the box – avoiding familiar phrases like your favourite TV show or personal info like dates of birth.

2 Then change them again One of the golden rules of network security is to regularly update your passwords. You may think yours are secure; but are you certain you can say the same for that friend you gave your Wifi password to when they stayed for a week?

3 Equip your network A professional integrator should ensure you’ve got high-quality firewall and antivirus software in place; so if this doesn’t come up in the conversation, be wary. You’ll need to get this sorted yourself if you’re looking at DIY solutions.

4 Keep up with maintenance Keep your smart devices up-to-date with the latest security software (the most reliable manufacturers release regular patches). Most integrators offer a support agreement, whereby they remotely update systems on your behalf in the background, so there’s no interruption to your service.

5 Don’t announce your whereabouts Fitting your home with the latest CCTV and smart alarms undoubtedly increases security – but that still doesn’t make it ok to announce to all and sundry on social media that you’re away on holiday for three weeks!