SMART home gadgets can save you time and money – but they’re risky if you set them up wrong.
A leading cyber-expert has revealed how to types of home gadget could leave you exposed.
The “Internet of Things” means that more of the objects in our homes are connected.
That means you can control things like heating, cleaning and lighting all through apps.
But Professor Lisa Wilson, a member of the International Cyber Expo’s advisory council, warned that we shouldn’t forget the risks of these devices.
“From a smart lock where you enter a front door to a smart refrigerator that orders your food, to a smart washing machine or toilet that can be operated remotely,” Professor Wilson told The U.S. Sun.
“They are innately designed to help us.
“And the ‘wow’ factor can be quite mesmerising for those unaware of any potential harm.
“However, they also help those with a malicious intent to enable disruption of our lives and further the risks to greater harm.”
There are two types of gadgets that you need to look out for…
Home break-ins
The first risk is when a crook takes advantage of your smart home tech to physically break in.
“By way of example, robotic vacuum cleaners capture data about a home layout and smart locks indicate occupancy of that home,” Professor Wilson said.
“Together, they provide insight on breaking and entering.
“Particularly when many of these devices are poorly installed, with low-level security factors such as two-factor authentication.”
Big bills and being cut off
Another risk is when you use smart home gadgets to control resources in your home.
Having the wrong settings could let hackers cut you off from resources – or waste them, racking up big bills.
“Similarly, ‘Internet of Things’ devices connected to power and water can be activated maliciously to operate and waste resources,” Professor Wilson warned.
Professor Wilson described how hackers could effectively hold your home resources to “ransom”.
The cyber-expert said that ordinary gadget users need to learn more about the dangers of relying on smart home tech.
“Much more work must be done to educate and protect people from these risks,” Professor Wilson said.
“Which are in the main seen only as ‘inconvenience’, rather than the real harm possible.”
