Don't Let Smart Home Devices Compromise Your Personal Security

Try out these suggestions to protect your sensitive information.

Today, the average American home is filled with smart devices.  Unfortunately, the more internet-connected devices you have, the greater your risk for a cyberattack.  While most homeowners know to protect their smartphones, laptops, and other personal devices, they often forget about things like smart fridges, thermostats, and other home automation devices.  If you want to protect your personal information from hackers, then here are some of the steps that you should take to secure your home.

• Use Different Logins for Each Device

Many homeowners make the mistake of securing all their devices with the same username and password combo.  This is risky because as soon as a hacker breaks one device, they can access all your other ones.  The best way to prevent this from happening is by creating unique usernames and passwords that incorporate a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.

• Don't Leave Cameras and Mics On

Many smart TVs and voice-controlled devices have cameras and microphones that can record you without you knowing.  If a hacker gains access to these devices, then they can secretly watch and listen to you and your family.  To prevent this scary scenario, make sure that you always manually switch off the cameras and microphones on your devices when they are not in use.

• Update Your Devices Frequently

Manufactures of internet-connected devices are always on the lookout for emerging threats and weaknesses in their defenses.  They are quick to respond to vulnerabilities by releasing device updates that fix bugs and improve user security.  To ensure that you have the most updated security measures in place, update all your devices as prompted.

These are some of the steps that you should take to protect your private information at home.  Want another way to make your home safe for yourself and your loved ones?  Then make sure you have the right homeowners insurance protections in place.  For assistance with all your home coverage, contact the experts at Scavone Insurance Agency Center LLC in White Plains, New York today.