IoT or Internet of Things has emerged as the latest trend among tech lovers. It is gradually picking up the pace and many people have started adopting it globally. As you might know, IoT involves various interrelated devices connected over a network. These devices with unique identifiers have the ability to transfer data without human interaction. These devices or ‘things’ can be anything from a computing device, a human with embedded electronics or a smart gadget. The goal surrounding IoT is to make things around us smart and make life easier with automated delivery of services.
For instance, we can talk about building a smart house with all the many smart connected devices. Building a smart house on the concept of IoT could seem like an easy pursuit but securing it may not be an easy task. Security for smart devices in home networks is challenging. If you are reading this, chances are that you might be looking for the best ways to ensure security for your smart devices.
In this article, we will discuss the different ways in which one can address all the concerns on IoT security for home networks. This includes many best practices to follow that can be quite helpful. Let’s go ahead and discuss them in details below.
It is obvious that all the “things” that we talk about would collect and exchange data. These interconnected devices also connect to the Internet as part of being smart. As such, security concerns from cyber threats are obvious as not all devices provide the same security level.
IoT may be transforming lives, but following best practices will pay off while making the most out of it.
Since IoT works over a network, the router is the primary gateway that can be the most vulnerable. Hence, securing the router first with the best possible encryption and security details should be the key goal. This includes keeping its firmware up to date and locking it up with a strong login credential and encryption method. One must also be vigilant while granting any special permission that may seem fishy.
Moreover, while purchasing a router to set up a home network one must stress on buying one from a reputed brand. Most new routers in the market have enhanced security features. Hence, if having an old router one must consider making an upgrade soon to have more of an advantage.
Another old school tip on securing IoT network would be to create a guest network for all other things. This way, the IoT network can be made private and secured more effectively.
IoT is growing rapidly and so are the varieties of smart devices available in the market. These devices are also vulnerable to cyber threats including cryptojacking and device hijacking. In an IoT network, a vulnerability in one device can pose a serious threat to the whole network of smart devices. For instance, a vulnerable device may also be subject to launching a remote DDoS attack.
In order to safeguard the security of IoT on home networks, it is recommended to stick to reputed brands. By getting smart home software from known players, one can be assured that security loopholes, if any exist, will be addressed sooner or later. Most brands like Samsung, LG, and others periodically push security patches to fix all the flaws in their devices.
It is also a good practice to configure the devices properly after going through their user manual.
While using these IoT devices, one must ensure that none of the devices have any unnecessary web access or special permissions. If you think that a particular feature of the device need not have internet access, you can easily disable it. Specifically security cameras or home assistants are among the most vulnerable. Hence, to ensure that conversations or visual feeds are not hijacked one must secure them outright.
Other than the above, one can also check on the level of security on home networks by using IoT scanners.
IoT Scanners are just software that identifies vulnerabilities and can sometimes also fix them.
