Smart-Home Privacy Concerns

There are questions about smart home data collection, usage, and protection. Africa Studio/Shutterstock

Smart homes are convenient, and many accomplish tasks that we only thought could happen in science fiction. But there is a dark side to smart-home technology. There are questions about smart-home data collection, usage, and protection.

You may think no one cares about your refrigerator or the process of locking your doors, but these are gateways through which hackers can access your personal information. How do hackers do this, and what can you do to protect yourself and your family?

How Smart Homes Jeopardize Privacy

Smart-home devices connect to the internet and contain small computers that let them be controlled remotely. These computers use internet protocol to link up and are connected through a hub. This might be your network router or phone. Your phone will have an app for smart devices.

Called the internet of things (IoT), these devices are nonstandard computing hardware. They consist of appliances, actuators, and sensors that connect wirelessly to a network and can transmit data.

The IoT collects and stores information on your usage, habits, and preferences on the device or the network.

Because of the accumulation of audio and video data, your smart home becomes a potential privacy risk. And as data such as passports and bank accounts are moved online, the risk becomes even more significant.

Every device you add to the network increases privacy concerns. Your most intimate moments and activities within your home are being recorded and analyzed by smart devices.

The risk of data breaches and unauthorized data collection threatens your privacy and security.

What Are the Consequences of Smart-Home Privacy Breaches?

Privacy breaches in a smart home have far-reaching potential consequences. Unauthorized access to video and audio recordings compromises privacy and can lead to identity theft or blackmail.

Malicious people can cause reputational damage, financial loss, and emotional distress.

The interconnection of devices in smart homes amplifies privacy concerns. For example, data collected by a device may be shared with other devices or third-party services. Third parties could be marketing companies that now know what offers to send you.

Information could also be shared with other devices; this increases the risk.

Which Smart-Home Devices Collect Data?

Smart homes are connected to apps. One in 10 smart home apps collect data for user tracking. The top three smart home apps that collect data include myQ (garage and access control), Craftsman (mQ garage access control), and Keurig.

There are many more.

Smart-home devices also collect data. The No. 1 company that collects data through a device is Amazon. It collects three times more than the average home device. The information collected includes contact information and health data with any sensitive information related to it.

Google comes second in collecting data. Some of its most collected data include precise location, photos and videos, audio data, and browsing and search history.

Any device can jeopardize your privacy. For example, outdoor security cameras gather 50 percent more than is usual for smart-home devices. Home cameras used for home security and baby monitoring have been hacked.

Smart-Home Security Measures You Can Implement

When deciding what smart-home devices to install, research and choose trustworthy manufacturers. You should understand the data your devices collect and process. Who has access to this data? Research every company you’re considering and carefully read their privacy policies.

Use a guest network instead of your normal one. That means setting up a separate network for your smart home devices. This will prevent visitors, such as a repairman, from accessing your main network where personal information is stored.

This one has been preached for years, but one of the best ways to protect your information is to use strong passwords. Typing “12345” for a password or your birthday isn’t safe. Use a combination of letters numbers and special characters. Take the time to change them periodically. It may be an inconvenience, but it’s a lot safer.

If you’re not using a function, then deactivate it. An unused function just gives criminals another gateway to your information.

Another way to protect yourself is to go through the privacy settings of all your devices and applications. Deactivate data collection or forwarding if this isn’t necessary. Data could be listed under “my activities” or “history.” Decide whether this information is useful to you. If you have Alexa or Google Assistant, check the recordings regularly and delete them if necessary.

Many smart-home devices automatically connect to new devices. Disable or restrict automatic discord to prevent unauthorized access.

Smart Homes Can Jeopardize Privacy

According to Science Direct, unauthorized access to smart-home systems may enable the activation of webcams and voice control devices. Indeed, the whole smart home ecosystem is insecure.

It’s essential to take steps to ensure that your vital information and family are protected. Knowing the company you hire, adding a guest network, and creating a strong password are good ways to start securing your privacy.

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