Securing your smart home

Canadians’ homes keep getting smarter. Whether it’s TVs, thermostats, kitchen appliances, lighting, door locks, garage doors, security systems, plugs, baby monitors or virtual assistants (Alexa! Siri! Google!), Canadians are choosing the efficiency and convenience of networked devices.

But at what security cost? According to Made in CA, 74% of Canadian households use entertainment devices including smart TVs and Bluetooth, and 32% use building safety and security including cameras and smoke detectors. Yet, 72% of Canadians worry about the privacy of their personal data when using smart home devices, and 55% worry about the overall security of those devices.

So how can your home be smart and secure at the same time? Understand the risks and follow some proven tips to help you enjoy the convenience without the worry.

Understanding the risks

Smart devices connect to the Internet (typically using your WiFi network) to share data to other devices or the cloud. Users typically monitor and manage those devices (systems or appliances) remotely using apps on their smartphones or other network-connected devices.

Any device that connects to a network in your home becomes an access point. What does that mean? If it’s not secured properly, it’s a way in. While hackers may not care about the latest taco recipe you downloaded to your fridge or your banging Spotify playlist, they do care about the personal information that resides on your computer or smartphone. And without the right security on your smart devices, they may use those access points to get where they want to go.

The risks are real

CBC Marketplace wanted to test the security of smart homes. They enlisted an Oakville family who had automated their home with several smart devices including lights, thermostat, security cameras and the front door deadbolt.

With the family’s permission, ethical hackers (white hats) took to the task of trying to take control of the devices. It didn’t take long. Within two hours, the hackers figured out the WiFi password. The family also used the same password for its smart thermostat.

The hackers didn’t stop there. They sent a phishing email made to look like it was coming from the family’s home hub provider requesting log-in details. They received them. Once they had access to the home hub account, they could unlock the front door. The family also used the same password for its home security cameras, so the hackers were able to log in and see what was going on in the home.

Smart and secure

You don’t have to forgo all home automation and the benefits that come with it. You just need to take some basic steps to secure your smart home devices, so they do what they are supposed to do – make your life easier, more convenient and more efficient. Kaspersky, a global cyber security provider, offers some easy-to-adopt strategies:

• Secure your WiFi router: update your firmware (the software that powers your router) regularly either by registering for automatic updates with your provider or doing it yourself.
• Determine what you actually need: maybe your home doesn’t need to be that smart. Remember to always review privacy policies, so you understand what data your provider collects and how it's being used. Choose smart devices for what really matters and find the balance between convenience, security and privacy.
• Be a password pro: it can’t be stressed enough – change default passwords and create unique, strong passwords for each device. Use a password manager to keep track of them. Update them often.
• Set up a guest network: keep your smart devices and personal devices on separate networks, so if hackers do get access somehow, your personal information is out of reach.
• Use multi-factor authentication: these days, passwords are great, but there are additional layers of protection you can use. If your provider offers it (and all of them should by now), enable multi-factor authentication for each device for an added layer of security.

Smart home adoption is only growing. We will have more and more smart devices in our homes to help us manage key systems, recommend the next best series to binge and turn us on to new music. But with every connected smart device you add, you also add another layer of security risk. Understand the risks and manage them proactively, so you can have a home that is both smart and secure.