Maria Diaz/ZDNET
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It is entirely possible for smart home users to take active and preventive steps that substantially reduce their vulnerability to cyberattacks. Establishing robust and unique passwords, employing multi-factor authentication (MFA), and ensuring devices are configured securely all serve as foundational measures in bolstering digital safety. Additionally, conducting diligent research into the credibility and security history of smart device manufacturers before making a purchase is a critical strategy for safeguarding one’s home network.
As a consumer deeply invested in smart technology, I often find myself reflecting with concern whenever a large-scale data breach captures public attention — particularly when it involves products that I own, use, or personally advocate for, such as smart security cameras. Recent events have brought one pressing question back into focus: how easily can an everyday smart home system be infiltrated or compromised by hackers?
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Nearly all modern households now rely on some form of Internet of Things (IoT) device, from smartphones and tablets to smart cameras, light systems, thermostats, and sensors that monitor ambient conditions. Yet, when distressing incidents emerge — such as the hacking of approximately 120,000 home security cameras in South Korea, which resulted in the illicit circulation of voyeuristic footage — it understandably provokes hesitation and reinforces the anxiety surrounding privacy. Such breaches remind us that our homes, the one environment meant to be a sanctuary of safety and seclusion, are not immune to digital intrusion.
**Can someone hack my smart home?**
While every smart home ecosystem carries a degree of risk, the likelihood of being personally targeted remains relatively modest. Malicious attackers are generally opportunistic rather than strategic; they routinely scan vast digital landscapes in search of weakly protected targets instead of meticulously selecting one household to exploit. Typically, these bad actors seek out devices with default credentials, outdated firmware, or unsecured network connections — low-hanging fruit in the cyber realm.
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To minimize the threat of intrusion, the key principle is prevention: make your system unappealing to would-be hackers by strengthening every layer of protection. The unfortunate reality is that many widely publicized smart home breaches arise not from sophisticated or unpreventable attacks but from basic user negligence — the failure to implement simple security protocols that would have mitigated the risk entirely.
**How can I safeguard my smart home against hackers?**
Practices such as using weak or reused passwords, neglecting firmware updates, or maintaining exposed Wi-Fi networks greatly heighten your susceptibility, even if the overall risk remains statistically small. Below are several concrete, evidence-backed measures to reinforce the security architecture of your smart home environment.
1. **Protect your passwords**
Several alarming cases have highlighted hackers manipulating baby monitors and engaging in two-way communication with infants — exploits almost always made possible because the default factory-issued password was never changed. This emphasizes a simple but crucial rule: weak or recycled passwords serve as an open invitation for malicious access. Furthermore, reusing a password previously compromised in a data breach can allow attackers to penetrate multiple devices or services effortlessly.
For genuine protection, employ strong, unique passwords for each individual device and associated account. Make each password sufficiently complex and unrelated to any others, thereby increasing the effort required for unauthorized entry and dissuading potential attackers.
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2. **Enable two- or multi-factor authentication (MFA)**
Integrating multi-factor authentication adds another defensive tier beyond your password. Should your password somehow be exposed or stolen, MFA would still require a secondary form of confirmation — such as a code sent to your smartphone or biometric verification — before granting access. The most reputable smart home platforms, including those by Amazon, Google, and Philips Hue, provide this option for users.
Although MFA might occasionally feel inconvenient, especially during repeated logins, the additional seconds it takes to verify your identity pale in comparison to the potential harm of a compromised system. The inconvenience is, quite literally, the cost of much greater digital safety.
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3. **Secure your Wi-Fi network**
Your Wi-Fi router forms the backbone of your connected home — and an unprotected network effectively leaves the door wide open to intruders. Always utilize WPA2 or WPA3 encryption protocols and immediately replace your router’s default password with a strong alternative. Network security hinges on this simple step.
Limit sharing your Wi-Fi credentials to only trusted individuals. A recommended practice is the creation of multiple networks: one primary network for personal devices such as laptops and smartphones, and another isolated network solely for IoT devices like smart plugs, robot vacuums, and connected sensors. This network segmentation effectively contains any potential breach, preventing it from spreading across all household systems.
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4. **Keep firmware consistently up to date**
Device manufacturers frequently identify vulnerabilities in existing firmware and release over-the-air updates designed to patch these security gaps. By enabling automatic updates, users ensure that their smart home devices benefit from the latest protection mechanisms without having to manually track each update. Ignoring these maintenance updates, on the other hand, leaves devices exposed to already-known exploits.
5. **Disable unnecessary features**
Many smart devices include advanced features such as remote access, universal plug and play (UPnP), and third-party integrations that expand functionality but also enlarge the potential attack surface. If you do not actively rely on certain features, especially those connected to the internet, disable them through the device’s settings. For example, turning off remote access means the device can only be controlled locally but is far less susceptible to remote exploitation. Likewise, declining optional app integrations limits pathways through which data could inadvertently be accessed or transmitted.
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6. **Research the brand before purchasing**
Before investing in new smart technologies, thoroughly investigate the manufacturer’s reputation, update history, and user trustworthiness. Although brand familiarity might offer an illusion of reliability, even prominent companies like Wyze, Eufy, and Google have previously faced exposure incidents triggered by relatively basic vulnerabilities.
Do not assume that a large, recognizable company inherently guarantees superior privacy practices. Instead, examine product documentation, community discussions, and third-party reviews — especially on forums such as Reddit — to evaluate real-world experiences. If local-only data storage is an important feature for your household, seek independent verification that a brand reliably delivers on that promise.
By blending vigilant consumer research with disciplined personal cybersecurity habits, you can substantially strengthen the digital walls of your home — ensuring that your space remains a haven not only physically but also digitally against the evolving landscape of modern cyber threats.
Sourse: https://www.zdnet.com/article/smart-home-hacking-prevention-techniques/
