Smart Devices Can Become a Security Problem

Smart devices and Internet-of-Things devices in general have taken the world by storm, and a home without at least a handful of smart devices is quite rare to find these days. However, smart devices—or devices that connect to the Internet to perform various functions—must be approached with a certain level of caution.

What Kind of Smart Devices Might You Have?

Essentially, anything that connects to the Internet can be considered a smart device, so naturally you will have your computers, tablets, smartphones, Internet routers, and other computing hardware to worry about. It’s the other, less considered devices that are the ones you have to watch out for, like the printers, security cameras, thermostats, smart speakers, and other minor devices that you might not have considered to be security threats. Even something like a smartwatch can be exploited under the right circumstances.

So, what can you do to protect your smart devices and create a safer environment on your network in general? Let’s go over a couple of simple practices you can use to protect yourself and your network while using smart devices.

Set Up Your Wi-Fi Router Properly

The router is not always the first thing you think of in terms of Internet security, but it’s where you should begin your efforts to protect your wireless network. A good place to start is changing your router’s default name. By default, it should include something that includes your router’s brand and model. If you leave it the way it is, you are giving hackers more clues into how they can tap into your wireless network. Furthermore, you should be using a complex password and the highest level of encryption possible.

Use Multi-Factor Authentication

If you want to optimize security on any connection, you should be using multiple measures. A password is simply not enough these days; you should have multi-factor authentication set up whenever possible for accounts and devices, be it a biometric proof of identity or a simple text to your smartphone.

Use a Separate Wi-Fi Connection for IoT Devices

If you are worried about security on your network from IoT devices, then a good option is to create a separate network for any IoT devices. This effectively partitions your connection and makes it so that the important devices and data are kept separate from the more at-risk connection, that being the IoT network.

Network Solutions Unlimited can help your business secure its office from smart devices and other IoT devices. To learn more, reach out to us at (217) 428-6449.