Broken Windows in the Era of Smart Homes

​​As we enter the era of the smart and digital home, it's important to consider the security of our devices and systems at home and make sure we are not opening our doors to the security threats “mi casa no es tu casa” (My house and family are my castle and you are not welcomed) . While the benefits of convenience and efficiency are clear, we must be vigilant in protecting our homes from potential cyber threats and ransomware.

Here are a few tips to help you secure your smart home in the new digital era:

Observability

Keep track of all IoT and smart assets in your house. Here is a laundry list of possible digital threats. Be selective about the devices you allow into your home. Do your research to make sure that the devices you’re using are from reputable brands and have strong security measures in place before connecting them to your home network.

Monitoring, Logging and Alerting

Keep an eye on your devices and look for anything unusual. This can help you spot potential security threats. See this impressive dashboard using Grafana and open source tools.

Vulnerability Management

Keep your devices (i.e. laptops, phones, smart watches, WiFi routers, etc) and software such as Chrome browser up to date. Manufacturers are constantly releasing new updates for their products that include security enhancements. By keeping your devices and software up to date, you'll be better protected against the latest threats and zero day vulnerabilities.

Security

Use strong passwords, multi-factor authentication and a password manager

When setting up your smart home devices, be sure to use strong passwords and enable multi-factor authentication if possible. This will help to prevent unauthorized access to your devices and data.

Use a secure home network

Your home modem and router is the gateway to your home network. Be sure to secure it with a strong password and enable encryption. This will help to keep your data safe from outside attackers.

Use a firewall

A firewall can help protect your network from attacks. Make sure to configure it properly and keep it up to date.

Privacy

Be aware of what's happening in your home. Smart home devices can collect a lot of data about your daily activities.

Be careful what you share online. Think carefully about what you share online, as this can help hackers target your devices. Be especially careful with personal information and financial data.

Conclusion

From a security standpoint, it is important to remember that our smart home is only as secure as the devices that we use to connect to it. As such, it is important to ensure that we are using secure devices and networks when accessing or implementing our smart home.