The Internet of Things is something relatively new in the universe of technology and computing, with regard to the interconnection of equipment, access and exchange of data over the web. Despite this, it is a concept that is increasingly closer to our homes and increasingly present in workplaces and public management.
Gartner predicts that there will be more than one billion connected devices in use by 2018 in the world alone. smart homes, without considering sectors such as health, transport, industry, among others. People are asking for smarter things to lighten up their daily lives or be a source of leisure and fun. On the other hand, the use of personal assistants, electronics and connected appliances requires care with cyber and information security. On this subject, the ABES portal interviewed Aloísio Marinho, a security specialist at Trend Micro, who presented several tips according to the type of equipment.
“The reality for home users is that not all smart devices have basic security measures built in. This gives the user the responsibility to configure and use the devices carefully”, warned Aloísio.
Below are some practical safety measures that you can apply in your home.
1- Configure your smart devices for security
Make sure the IoT devices in your home have encryption capabilities and make sure they are enabled by default. Enabling encryption can prevent attempts to compromise sensitive data on devices in the event of a hacker attack.
“Checking all the device's default settings and knowing how to modify them allows the user to customize the features that best meet their needs, keeping their privacy and personal security intact,” explained Aloísio. That is, it is necessary to carefully read the installation and operation manual and seek more technical information, if necessary.
Also, be sure to check that all your gadgets are up to date with systems (software). “Regularly update your firmware to the latest versions whenever you are notified to do so. Many devices even have an auto-update feature that does this for you,” he explained.
Updating devices at least once a month should reduce the risk of being invaded by unpatched vulnerabilities. Backing up or saving copies of your devices' original configuration files should also give you the option to restore your device's settings to their previous state in the event of an unforeseen failure.
2- Secure your home router
User should consider the home router as the gateway for all internet connected devices in their smart home. Some attackers manage to compromise home routers, as many models have default credentials that home users often forget to change. That's why it's always important to create a strong router password right after setting it up.
3- Change your passwords often
It is not enough that you put a password on your router or your smart devices. Passwords can fall into the wrong hands, especially when you have people visiting your house asking if they can connect to your Wi-Fi or sync their own devices. “Often, changing your passwords can prevent outsiders from accessing your router and devices. Also make sure you use unique passwords for each of the IoT devices in your home. If an attacker discovers one of your passwords, the possibility of your other devices being hacked will be less”, warned the Trend Micro expert.
Also, create long and complex passwords. If devices allow, it is best to use a combination of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. As much as possible, do not include names, birthdays or addresses, as this information can be used to guess your passwords in brute force attempts.
4- Review the log history of your devices
Some smart devices allow the user to check activity logs whenever they connect to the internet. Read the device model in particular if it has this connection capability. Someone in the family who is more tech-savvy can be assigned to regularly monitor and review device logs for any suspicious activity. For example, many home security cameras allow users to view the history of IP addresses that have accessed their feed. By going through the logs, you can find out if strangers have been keeping an eye on your house.
5- Protect your smartphone
Since multiple IoT devices can be controlled via mobile devices via an app, the smartphone also needs to be secured and standard mobile security guidelines must be enforced. “Make sure your smartphone is updated with the latest firmware version. Only download legitimate apps from your smart device providers and review app permissions before installing them on your smartphone. Installing a mobile security app can also prevent malicious apps or code from running on your phone.”
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