How to Secure Your Smart Home Devices
Every once in a while, stories pop up in news feeds about hackers breaking into baby monitors, video doorbells, and other smart home devices, giving quite a scare to the homeowner or user. Why do we hear about these types of devices getting hacked more often than others? Typically, smart home devices, or the “Internet of Things (IoT)” as they are called, have easier points of entry. IoT often lacks the security features of other devices and run on less secure operating systems. If a hacker can gain access through a weak entry point, they have access to more valuable information found on your network, including computers, smartphones, and alarm systems, etc. So how do you keep your network and all connected devices safe and secure?
1. Secure your router with a strong password
Most residential routers purchased from a big-box store or website like Amazon use a model-specific SSID (the name of your Wi-Fi network) and something generic, like "admin," for the password. Often times, people don’t think to change the password from the one assigned by the manufacturer. This makes it easy for hackers to get into and access your Wi-Fi network. If you buy your own router, make sure you follow the instructions to change the password and the SSID. Also, check your Wi-Fi Protected Access; it will be termed WPA, WPA2, or WPA3. This is the security standard for your wireless network. WPA3 is considered more secure than the previous versions as it offers stronger encryption and security features. If you have a mix of old and new devices in your home, look for a WPA2-WPA3 transitional setting to accommodate all devices.
If you have a Lynxx-provided router through our Managed Wi-Fi service, you can easily change the SSID, Wi-Fi Protected Access, and Wi-Fi password in the Lynxx Command IQ App. Our technicians will help you download the app on your smartphone during your installation of service. You can also download the app in your App Store and follow the set-up instructions.
2. Set up a separate network specifically for IoT
Create an additional network on your router that allows you to keep your computers and smartphones separate from your IoT. You could create a guest network that your IoT connects to, or have a primary network for devices that need more protection and a secondary network for IoT. This way, if an IoT device is hacked, the hacker will have difficulty accessing your other devices on separate networks.
If you have a Lynxx router through our Managed Home Wi-Fi Service, you can easily set up different primary, secondary, and guest networks through your Lynxx Command IQ App.
3. Secure the device
Like routers, IoT devices come with a default username and password. If left as is, this means that thousands of devices share the same login information, which hackers can often find online. When you purchase a new IoT device set a new, strong password.
4. Use multi-factor authentication
Lots of online services use multi-factor authentication to help protect accounts. If your IoT device supports multi-factor, use it there too. With MFA, it’s one more step for you to access the account, (which may seem inconvenient) but multi-factor authentication poses a big hurdle for hackers who are trying to access accounts with usernames and passwords.
5. Get a new router
Aging routers = aging security protocols. If it’s been several years since you purchased and installed your router, look at replacing it. Even if your internet performance isn’t suffering, the security of your connected devices most likely is.
If you don’t want to mess with buying and maintaining your own router, check out Lynxx Networks Managed Home Wi-Fi. For only $9.95 / mo. you get a fiber-fast router with 3x the coverage of the average, residential router; 24/7 tech support; network security; and the Lynxx Command IQ App with parental controls.