Living a connected lifestyle at home opens up so many possibilities. A recent study shows 57 percent of Americans save at least 30 minutes each day with the help of smart home technology. Just like any technology in your home, it’s important to ensure common sense measures are in place for a secure smart home experience.

Pay attention to physical security

When setting up your smart home, be aware of where you install devices. For example, think about where your devices are located in relation to exterior-facing doors and windows. If a break-in occurs, you want to make it as difficult as possible for burglars to find and access your smart home products. Keep laptops, tablets, and other electronic devices in closets or drawers. For more expensive tech items, invest in a safe that’s located in the basement or a locked closet/drawer. If a smart home product is taken, don’t panic — it doesn’t mean you’ll be hacked. Often, the products will just be sold off for cash. A majority of reputable smart home products also feature additional security layers that make it nearly impossible to access any kind of valuable personal information. 

Encryption is key

Encryption is the process of scrambling readable sensitive data into an unreadable format. Many smart home companies, including iDevices, make multiple layers of encryption a standard on all  products. Adding encryption to a device is a great method to prevent unauthorized users from tampering with personal and sensitive data. This means you’re the only person with the credentials to unlock and access the smart device. Look into enabling a strong encryption method for your home Wi-Fi. Check your router settings and use WPA2 (provides unique encryption keys for each person that connects to the network) to ensure your network and personal data is secure. You might also benefit from learning about how a VPN provider can add an extra layer of security to your smart devices at home or in public places where you’re accessing an unsecured network.

Enable authentication when possible

Two-factor authentication is one of the best ways to keep cybercriminals out of your private accounts. This process consists of a one-time code that is sent to your mobile phone after you input your password. Authentication will protect your account if your password is hacked, by adding an extra layer (your phone number) to the login credentials. This extra security can be enabled on various apps, emails, etc. With authentication and a secure Wi-Fi network in your home, cyber criminals will stay at bay. 

Understand platform security

This type of security refers to the tools and processes that ensure the security of a computing platform. Platform security eliminates individual security measures and instead secures all components and layers of the platform. For example, gaming consoles and smart phones both have embedded software that uses platform security. Before buying any smart device, make sure to do your research on the platform and how it has performed for other users, watch tutorials, and read testimonials from others who recommend the product to make sure it is secure enough for all your digital needs.