3 tips to stay safe in the IoT World

All the high-tech words and complicated concepts around IoT devices may create the impression that cybersecurity is in fact a niche that only experts can grasp. We want to challenge this misconception. Protecting smart devices is not that hard, and there are some very simple and effective actions you can take for your safety.

Based on our experience of protecting smart devices, we felt it necessary to lay down some security tips. You’ve surely heard them before, maybe you think we sound like your mother, repeating stuff till you do it. If that’s what it takes to keep you safe, we are ok with that. Feel free to share these with your friends, family and anybody in your life you care about and want to be safe.

So here we go:

Change the default credentials on your smart devices. It’s like locking the door when you leave home. Good passwords are strong locks for your smart devices that might be entry points: security cameras, locks, watches, baby monitors, smart toys, light bulbs, vacuum cleaners, thermostats, printers. Use a combination of letters (upper and lowercase), numbers and special characters and create a unique password for each device.

Check for known vulnerabilities before buying a smart device.If you check the expiration date on your food before buying it, do the same with intelligent devices. Read reviews and feedback not only about features but also about potential safety hazards. By making safety a part of the buying decision, you will eventually force manufacturers to pay closer attention to the default security on the devices they’re producing.

Set up a separate guest network for your guests.  Having two Wi-Fi networks—one for you and one for visitors— is like looking both ways before crossing the street – you are making sure others do not threaten your personal safety. The main advantage is that this separate network is locked out of the rest of your devices, so your sensitive information is not exposed. Secondly, you can give your guest network a simple password that’s easier to remember than the complicated one protecting the primary network.

Hackers love to target poorly secured devices, so do everything you can to strengthen your smart home security. If you take your safety seriously, you may also consider using a Bitdefender BOX. It will protect all the Internet-connected devices you use and detect vulnerabilities and anomalies, and notify you to take measures. Bitdefender BOX spots and stops hacking, phishing and malware attacks, keeping cybercriminals away from your devices.

Let us know if you have any questions in the comments below! And stay safe!