Smart TV, smart speaker, robot vacuum cleaner and WiFi CCTV cameras have now become a part of millions of homes. Because of the Internet of Things (IoT), these devices are making our lives easier than ever. But these smart gadgets are also creating the biggest record of your personal life. These devices remain connected to the Internet 24 hours a day and continuously collect data with the help of cameras, microphones and sensors. If there is even a small security lapse, your personal photos, conversations and home information can reach the wrong hands. Many such cases have been revealed in the reports of organizations like MIT Technology Review, Consumer Reports and Check Point Research. In such a situation, it is important to know whether the convenience of smart home is becoming your biggest privacy weakness.
How smart gadgets become digital spies
Smart home does not just mean devices connected to the internet, but a complete system that continuously works on data. Smart TV, Alexa, Google Home, robot vacuum cleaner and WiFi CCTV cameras remain connected to the internet all the time. These are equipped with cameras, microphones, motion sensors and other sensors, which record information related to the home environment and user activities. This data makes these devices smart, but if the security becomes weak then this information can also reach cyber criminals. Therefore, cyber experts are now considering smart home as a big issue of security along with convenience.
How personal data leaked from robot vacuum and smart TV
An investigative report by MIT Technology Review had revealed that very private pictures from inside the house, recorded by a robot vacuum cleaner of a famous brand, had reached the Internet. According to the report, these included a photo of a woman sitting on a toilet seat. These images were first sent to the cloud server and later reached social media during the data annotation process used for AI training. On the other hand, the Automatic Content Recognition (ACR) technology present in Smart TV records what the user is watching. Many cyber security investigations also revealed that some companies also collect information related to other conversations along with voice commands.
Why are CCTV and baby monitors becoming easy targets for hackers?
WiFi CCTV cameras and baby monitors installed for home security are most connected to the internet. Consumer Reports and Check Point Research have stated in their reports that millions of cameras remain at risk of hacking due to weak passwords and outdated firmware. In many cases, hackers gain control of such cameras and can even watch live video. Therefore experts recommend updating the firmware from time to time, keeping a strong password and turning on two factor authentication.
What data do hackers and companies want?
Not only photos or videos, but also your daily habits are very valuable for cyber criminals. Smart devices can be used to find out when you leave the house, when you sleep, how many members live in the house and which products are used. Smart speakers record samples of your voice, which can be misused for AI voice cloning and online fraud. If someone gets access to a smart lock or CCTV camera, he can also know when the house is vacant, which can increase the risk of theft.
You can stay safe to a great extent by changing these settings
According to cyber security experts, first of all you should change the default username and password of your WiFi router. Connecting smart devices to a separate guest network rather than the main network is considered more secure. Features like ACR or viewing data collection can be turned off in smart TV. It is better to install a camera cover in TVs which have a camera and are not in use. The voice history of the smart speaker should be deleted from time to time and the microphone should be kept muted when not needed. At the same time, two factor authentication must be activated in the app of robot vacuum and CCTV camera.
Adopt a smart home, but with security
Giving up smart devices is not the solution, but it is important to use them wisely. Before buying any new smart gadget, not only check its features and price, but also check how quickly the company releases security updates and what is its privacy policy. Internet-connected devices demand as much responsibility as they provide convenience. Your safety in the digital world largely depends on your own caution. Therefore, by adopting the right settings in time and following the security rules, your smart home can be made truly safe.
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