Smart technology has the potential to make life much easier and streamline activities – anything from getting out of bed in the morning to locking up at night. Investing in automated systems and appliances with Wi-Fi capability and mobile integration is one of the simplest ways to join the smart home revolution. As with any connection to the internet, you’ll want to make sure you’re safe.

When it comes to home automation, the security of your personal Internet of Things is of paramount importance. The internet of things is as simple as connecting your Wi-Fi enabled coffee maker to your smartphone to make sure you wake to freshly brewed coffee every morning. However, any internet connection can be vulnerable to hackers and security breaches. A home network that connects things like alarms, door locks and even medical information is the last system you want anyone gaining access to. For Home Automation, visit http://digitalinteriors.co.uk/

Here are some steps that you can take to protect your smart home:

Start with Security in Mind

Make sure you do your homework before you ever connect your smartphone to the thermostat. It’s much easier to start with a secure system than to try and patch up an insecure one. Certain devices emphasize security as a top priority, and those are the devices you want to work with. Focus on things like the available encryption strength or a company’s commitment to long-term security support. Look for developers that encourage sustainability in addition to a convenient user experience as you don’t want a system that will be completely vulnerable and outdated in a matter of months.

Protect Your Network

The security of your home network can be either a critical line of defence or a weakness. It’s good advice to set your router to employ the strongest encryption available. In most cases, a WPA2 encryption combined with a secure password is the safest. Another good move is to segment your network access. Most wireless routers will let you set up more than one network, allowing you to have separate networks for home automation devices, TVs and computers, and guest Wi-Fi. By separating your devices, if someone does break into one of your devices, they won’t automatically gain access to everything else in your home.

Maximise Security Features

Don’t settle for default security settings on your smart devices. Become familiar with the access control and authorization protocols of every device you use, and make the most of them as default configurations are available to the masses, making them an invitation for a cyberattack. Most devices offer enhanced security options, but you have to take the time to enable them. Always change a device’s default password to a strong password that includes a random combination of numbers, symbols, and both uppercase and lowercase letters.

Be Prepared

There are no guarantees of complete safety these days so an attack won’t be as damaging if you prepare for the fact that it could happen. Limit the storage of personal information that can be found from your devices. Ensure that all transfers of data are encrypted, and don’t store transactions records on a device or network. You can minimize the damage by limiting the data available and ensuring that any data compromised is now rendered useless such as immediately changing all passwords.