Intelligent home technology makes life easier, but can also carry security risks. Here’s our guide on how to protect yourself against unwanted people accessing your data.
Suitable for: Beginners
Time required: 15 minutes
Budget: Under £200
Product: eBlocker Pro
You will need: a computer, internet access
It’s well known that when it comes to the Internet, you are never 100% protected. As a result, some are afraid to equip their home with smart home technology, in the belief that they’ll be even more vulnerable. So do these devices really open the door to attackers?
The short answer is “no”. Most smart home components are worthless to hackers. They are mainly switches, lights and sensors. These devices do not collect or store sensitive data. The true vulnerability sits elsewhere, and is already there in every household with Internet access; the router is the connection to the Internet and thus the point of attack for data thieves. In this respect, the advice in this guide is not only interesting for those with smart home tech, but every Internet user.
Use a solid router
Most of illegal access to a home network is gained via the routers and base stations for smart home technology. Be sure to keep the firmware for these up to date; any new vulnerabilities are usually quickly reduced by installing updates. Modern routers such as the Fritz! Box make it possible to recognize all devices connected to them via the configuration interface. You access this interface through a web browser – usually it has a memorable address, such as fritz.box. This allows unauthorized third-party devices to be detected quickly.
Protect your Wi-Fi
When did you last change your Wi-Fi password? Is it maybe “12345” or “00000”? It’s frightening how many insecure wireless networks still exist, especially in private homes. Through these networks, criminals can easily gain access not only to smart lights or heaters, but also to the entire home system, including connected computers. Make sure your Wi-Fi is at least encrypted using the WPA2 standard, and select a password that is at least 16 characters long. At best, create a password using a password manager program. Never choose a password that consists of meaningful words.
Hide your IP address
Anyone who is on the Internet leaves traces, most notably their IP address. Each IP address is unique, so it can be used to specifically target a user’s port or router. The eBlocker Pro, for example, protects against this; the small device is connected directly to the router and then disguises the IP addresses of all its users. To be more specific, it actually gives a wrong IP address so nothing can be found out about the user. Even trackers that read our browsing behaviour on the Internet, or unwanted advertising, can be successfully blocked by the eBlocker Pro.
Disguising the IP address also makes smart homes safer. Smart home components inevitably send data that allow conclusions to be made about the residents – for example a setting that switches all the lights off when a certain smartphone moves out of the home. Here, the eBlocker can ensure that it is not clear whose apartment is currently empty.
More anonymity in the cloud
Smart home systems usually work with a cloud, which enables the communication between the building and the corresponding smartphone app. Many systems assume that users create an account first. No cloud is completely secure, and the data stored there may indicate which times a house is usually unattended. Not the case with Homematic IP, which stores all data anonymously in its cloud, with no need for a user account. This means any data sitting there is useless to a hacker. The Homematic IP range offers everything from motion sensors and dimmer sockets to shutter actuators; all the components you need for a well-equipped smart home.
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