6 Smart Tips for Smart Devices Security
Devices from the IoT environment are found in many household and the numbers of devices are increasing every day – Smart TVs, home devices and all types of wearable devices are entering our lives, and they are becoming easier to use, lighter or more entertaining.
Whenusing these smart devices, you should realize the cybersecurity risks associated with them.
“Most computers are fairly secure. They’ve got plenty of built-in security features, and more can be added by the users who operate them. Handheld devices tend to be somewhat less secure, but still sport some fairly robust features, and again, the users who employ them have a variety of additional security measures they can add.”
“The sad reality though, is that most smart devices don’t have any security at all. The handful that do have security have only the most basic, rudimentary measures in place that can be easily circumvented by even a novice hacker.” (Creative Techs)
As long as your device is connected to the network, there is no method that can guarantee the safe in security; however, if you can follow the following six practices, you can make your IoT devices saver.
Use separated network for home smart devices
Many home wireless routers allow you to set up multiple access points using a single route for different home devices. For example, you can keep the network for your Smart TV separated from your laptop and desktop, and using a different password for your Smart TV, so that even if your home computers are hacked, they still won’t get access to your Smart TV.
Avoid uncontrolled Plug and Play
An exploitation of the Universal Plug and Play protocol (UPnP) can gain access to many IoT devices. The UPnP allows a device to remotely connect and communicate on a network automatically, without authentication. UPnP is designed to self-configure when attached to an IP address, making it vulnerable to exploitation. The smart devices will be easy to find from outside. To prevent this, UPnP should be turned off from your home network router
Update the firmware
Regular updating of firmware for IoT devices is the same important as the OS updates in other personal computers. You should read the manual of your devices and understand how to keep the firmware updated. You should do firmware update as a regular habit as battery change or checking the smoke detectors.
Choose your passwords wisely
Carelessly selected password could provide an enormous risk. Choose your password carefully and write it down in a safe place. You need to make sure your password is unique and complex enough. Many devices have manufacturer default password setup. Please never use the default password since the manufacturer might use the same default password for all other products. In addition, try to use different passwords for different devices.
If the appliance is in the cloud?
Whether or not the devices are using cloud services are often uncertain. This is the same as you are using a smartphone app but you are uncertain what kind of data has been transferred to the service providers. You need to read the instructions carefully and see whether connecting your device to the Internet is really necessary and useful, or whether there are other ways.
Hands off the corporate network
Please do not take your IoT unit to your company and connect it without consulting the IT of your company. Many devices include a substantial safety risks. When using smart device across your company’s network, it create a gap, just like an unlocked door, it offers another simple way for the hackers to gain access to everything that resides behind your firewall.
