We live in an increasingly interconnected world. Our lives seem to revolve around the Internet, so perhaps it shouldn’t come as a surprise that we’re trying to connect as many aspects of our lives as possible to the web. This appears to be the case with the recent surge of products designed to turn our homes into smart homes.
The concept is simple: if we connect everything in our home to the Internet, from appliances and lighting systems to door locks and climate control, we can control them all remotely, making our lives easier.
Smart homes have generated interest from some big companies such as Google and Apple, and the smart home market is expected to reach over $70 billion by 2018. But with all the possibilities that smart homes present, many people are expressing genuine concern about how these automated living spaces can actually be provided. These are issues that you should definitely consider as you prepare to transform your home. in an interconnected domain.
1. Hacking connected thermostats
One of the most popular items used in a smart home is the smart thermostat. Nest, which was recently acquired by Google, makes devices that help control the temperature of your home. Smart thermostats pose a major security concern in terms of how easily hackers can gain access.
A recent demo showed one expert cracking a Nest thermostat in just 15 seconds. At first glance, you might think that a hacked thermostat might not be such a big deal, but the device collects information about you and everyone who lives in the house. Smart thermostats like the Nest know when someone is home, what their schedules are, when they are awake and asleep, and what temperature they prefer.
2. Who is actually watching your Smart TV?
Smart TVs are certainly a handy device, but if hackers get access to it, you could be in for a whole world of trouble. Many smart TVs come with a camera. Cyber attackers who hack into your device can then use this camera to spy on you and your family, even if you don’t have a TV. Due to the general lack of security standards, some hackers may even block you completely and ask you to pay some kind of ransom in order to gain access to it again.