Not to worry my tech hungry readers, we will keep you safe ( as much as we can !) and keep your ever expanding collection on smart wifi connected gear. For an explanation on smart devices check my post here

Smart home devices are vulnerable to cyber attacks, but there are steps you can take to secure them. Heres how to secure your smart home devices in 2023

Protect your router

Use a power surge protector,

it goes without saying if your router gets hit by a power surge it will get fried, and then ALL of your smart devices are useless. Power surges are unpredictable and they happen more than you think, ever had a circuit breaker just trip for no reason and doesn’t happen again? chance are that was a power surge but luckily your rcd kicked in and protected your gear.

Change Your routers SSid

If you leave your routers ssid as it came out the box it lets hacker know what type of router you have and potentially indicates you haven’t changed the user admin settings or password. This doesn’t have to be some military type code but remove the name whatever you do, and please don’t put your address in the ssid!!!! Also turn off remote management, it’s just another open door

Change Your Wifi Password

The default password (and ssid) will be on a sticker on the back of your new router or on the box it came in, you need to change this before you connect 1 single device to your home network. Use something long, mixed and complicated, It could be your date of birth with your dogs name with every other letter being a capital then the code on your gym padlock make sure you’re the only one who knows it. Use a mixture of caps, numbers and symbols of at least 16 digits in length but ultimately, unguessable.

Use Strong Passwords:

Use strong and unique passwords for all your accounts and devices. Avoid using default passwords, and consider using a password manager to help you remember them.

Keep Your Devices Up to Date:

Make sure your devices are running the latest version of their software and enable automatic updates. Outdated software has vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. It burns my head out when i see someones iphone and on the appstore icon theres like 34 apps that need updating!! For a great post on how to set up your smart home check my how to post here

Use Security Software:

Use a Firewall:

Install a firewall on your computer and enable it to protect your device from unauthorised access and brute force attacks.

Use Antivirus Software:

Install antivirus software on your computer and keep it up to date to protect your device from malware and other cyber threats, run regular scans or set the software to scan itself.

Install separate anti-spyware/Malware software

specialist anti spy/malware run deeper more focussed scans than regular anti virus.

Change Default Usernames and Passwords:

Change the default usernames and passwords on your devices to something unique and difficult to guess. If at all possible, try and use different passwords for every device, i know this is hard but you can use a password manager, if you’re super paranoid, write them on a piece of paper and stick it in your locked underwear drawer!!

Stick with Protected Devices Only:

Only buy smart home devices from reputable manufacturers that prioritise security. I’m going to get in trouble with this, but my job here to keep you informed and safe. But please, please, please don’t buy internet connected smart devices from places like wish or alibaba. I love alibaba, i use it for my amazon fba business, but unless youv’e heard of the smart tech manufacturer id stay well clear. if a massive firm like hikivision ( who make cctv) can get accused of security issues, then a company selling a £5 home assistant certainly can

Set Up a Guest Wi-Fi Network:

Set up a guest Wi-Fi network for visitors to use, separate from your smart home network. This can be found in your routers settings. Im not saying your visitors are all members of an underground hacking gang, but hey you never know!!

By following these tips, you can help protect your smart home devices from cyber attacks and keep your personal information safe. Smart home tech isn’t going away check my post on the stats here

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