Home Office & Family Security Plans

Why is Cyber Security a Smart Home Issue?

Top Five Vulnerable Smart Devices

1. Smart TVs:  With a click of a button or by the sound of our voice, our favourite shows will play, pause, rewind ten seconds, and more – all thanks to smart TVs and streaming devices. Although a great way to enjoy entertainment, it’s also a breeding ground for cyber-attacks; but how do they do it? By infecting a computer or mobile device with malware, a cybercriminal could gain control of your smart TV if your devices are using the same Wi-Fi.
2. Voice Controlled Assistants: Voice-controlled assistants and smart speakers are always listening and, if hacked, could gain a wealth of information about you. Often used as a central command hub, connecting other devices to them (ie. smart speakers, smart lights, security cameras, refrigerator or smart locks). Some people even opt to connect accounts such as food delivery, driver services, and shopping lists that use credit cards. If hacked, someone could gain access to your financial information or even access to your home.
3. Connected Cars: Today, cars are essentially computers on wheels. Between backup cameras, video screens, GPS systems, and Wi-Fi networks, they have more electronics stacked in them than ever. Despite the advancements in technology, these remain access points for an attacker. In fact, an attacker can take control of your car a couple of ways; either by physically implanting a tiny device that grants access to your car through phone or by leveraging a black box tool and your car’s diagnostic port completely remotely. Hacks can range anywhere from cranking the radio up, to cutting the transmission or disabling the breaks.
4. Connected Baby Monitors: When you have a child, security and safety fuels most of your thoughts. While smart baby monitors are helpful, they are also an easy target for cybercriminals.
5. Cell Phones: In any given day, we access financial accounts, check work emails and communicate with family and friends. That’s why it’s shocking to know how surprisingly easy it is for cybercriminals to access personal data on your cell phone. Phones can be compromised in a variety of ways, here are a few: accessing your personal information by way of public Wi-Fi (say, while you’re at a coffee shop using free Wi-Fi), implanting a bug, leveraging a flaw in the operating system, or by infecting your device with malware by way of a bad link while surfing the web or browsing email.