Did you know that your smart devices can be hacked by cyber criminals?
Smart devices have become a common staple in many homes and businesses. Remote controlled thermostats, security cameras that link to your cellphone, refrigerators that can tell you when you’re running out of milk, wearable fitness devices that measure your calorie burn, vacuums that clean your house automatically—these products simplify our lives and enable us to connect and control things with the push of a button.
What we don’t often think about is the security of these devices. There are currently no widespread security standards for smart objects, and many are released into the market with little protection against cyber-attacks. Programming strong security safeguards can be expensive and difficult, so many manufacturers neglect it completely. These companies rely on the fact that the general public does not know how to infiltrate these products, which in turn makes them easy targets for cyber criminals.
The amount of access that these devices have into our private and professional lives makes this lack of protection a real concern. With that in mind, it is wise to take steps to guard yourself against security breaches.
- Make sure that your internet connection is password-protected.
- Take advantage of the safeguards that your devices do have, such as passcodes and touch ID.
- Change factory default passwords, and use unique passwords for devices.
- Research manufacturers that produce the smart devices you want to purchase.
- Consider Identity Theft insurance for yourself, and Cyber Liability insurance for your business.
The unfortunate reality is that we are all vulnerable to cyber-attacks in our inter-connected world. Being proactive about your cyber security is important, and insurance coverage can help to reduce the fallout in the event that you do fall victim to a cyber-attack.
