IoT

Can you imagine a home wherein devices assist your morning routine, the alarm goes off as soon as you wake up, the voice assistant reads you the day’s news and the coffee machine starts preparing coffee? Well, you can now make this possible in a smart home. 

Smart homes connect their devices and appliances over the internet through the Internet of Things or IoT, which is a disruptive technology that has been transforming industries and our lives. IoT is a networking technology that enables communication and data transfer among connected devices. According to a study by Statista, the installed base of active Internet of Things connected devices is forecast to reach 21.5 billion units by 2025. 

Digitization also increases vulnerability over the internet and hackers often take the advantage of it. The growing significance of IoT comes at the price of certain security risks that need to be addressed. Having said that, we should understand that securing IoT and smart devices is the need of the hour. In the current scenario of the pandemic, most people and organizations work remotely and this inflates the exposure that can bring in grave cybersecurity issues. 

While rushing through producing new smart devices and allowing rapid digitization, security is often compromised. Further, this leads to ransomware attacks, data breaches, the threat to privacy, and other frauds. If you haven’t thought about it yet, here are some security measures to ensure the safety of IoT devices. 

Frequent Swap of Passwords

Passwords are imperative to enter into a device or the internet, hence it is necessary to secure them. One should remember to change the passwords of the smart devices and systems frequently to reduce hacking. These new passwords can be stored in a protected place within your phone or can be recorded on paper that should be kept safely. Use strong, random, and unique with a mix of characters, numbers, and letters to protect privacy. 

Say No to Public WiFi 

While logging into your system or smart device, public WiFi networks should be strictly avoided since they are easier and convenient to break. If it is necessary, using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) can ensure encryption and safety. It is better to give access to guest networks in case of outsiders using the internet. While granting permission to use guest networks in smart homes or companies, it should be encrypted with a strong system or password. 

Secure the Router

The routers are a safe path for fraudsters to enter into the network of smart devices and access data. Hence, routers need a regular password check to disable hackers. The default settings of a router, usually provided by the manufacturer need to be changed with strong names and passwords. Maintaining a secondary network to connect the IoT devices can stop unauthorized entities from accessing the files and data. 

Regular Software Updates

The regular software update reminders are not to be pushed away since they might carry security patches. The security updates for the devices could combat nascent developments in hacking and cybersecurity breaches. Keeping up-to-date with the OS updates can create a safer space for your IoT devices.

Incorporating Advanced Security Measures

The scope of cybersecurity is increasing every day with the advent of new technologies that ensure data security and privacy. IoT devices can easily fall prey to cyber-attacks and thus two-factor authentication, biometrics, facial recognition, and other advanced security measures can be leveraged to curb data breaches.