Network Security – Smart Home Security

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A smart home may offer a porous “attack surface” for hackers

If you are investing in a smart home, create a second, separate Wi-Fi network for your IoT devices.

To minimize information “leakage” concerns, smart home vendors are rolling out improvements in data management for privacy and security to customers. If you plan to invest in a smart home, consider a separate home Wi-FI network for your devices. This is recommended by the FBI.

Most routers provide the capability of setting up two separate Wi-Fi networks (i.e. VLANs) – your primary network and a guest network. If yours does not and for the truly security concerned, buying a second router is a more secure alternative. As this may be complex for the average user, consider consulting a professional to set it up.

Again, it is strongly recommended to update the password and, if available, add 2FA for accessing each of your smart home devices.

To inspect the Internet-of-Things network traffic in your smart home, Princeton University has developed a tool called IoT Inspector.

Finally, as IoT devices proliferate, they are becoming a serious attraction for hackers of various stripes. This has led to the definition of new security standards, such as the Underwriters Laboratories’ 2900, 5-tier Security Ratings and the European ETSI EN 303 645. If you have invested in a smart home and plan to buy more IoT devices, check to see if your current and future devices adhere to the requisite security standards.

FOR FURTHER READING:
CyberGuardian: a SecureTheVillage Guide for Residents is available on Amazon.
A complete Security Checklist is available: https://www.nerdsiview.com/security-checklist-2/
References for Village Residents are available at SECURE THE VILLAGE: https://securethevillage.org/residents

Supplemental Articles:
https://www.consumerreports.org/ring/how-to-use-ring-doorbell-control-center-privacy-security/
https://www.zdnet.com/article/fbi-recommends-that-you-keep-your-iot-devices-on-a-separate-network/
https://www.ul.com/offerings/cybersecurity-assurance-and-compliance
https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/cybersecurity-standard-iot-etsi

 © Alan Steven Krantz 2021