Laziness is the engine of progress. Even before our era, people invented the lever — to avoid straining themselves from heavy loads, the wheel — to transport loads, nails — to build houses, and sewerage — to avoid suffocating in their own excrement. Modern people try to make their lives easier even in such moments as opening curtains and turning on the TV. Smart home systems turn on the lights, start vacuum cleaners and make coffee. But these are more like toys. In addition to them, there are a large number of functions aimed at ensuring security: for example, locking doors, maintaining an optimal temperature, video surveillance, security and fire extinguishing systems ... However, all these devices, in addition to helping, can also carry a potential danger. They are all tied to the network, which means they are vulnerable to cyber attacks.
To prevent intruders from being smarter than your smart home, you should know about the main types of threats and take care to prevent them. How to do this - explained in the material.
More than half of Russians living in large cities enjoy the benefits of a smart home. Another 23% plan to do so in the near future. According to a study by the analytical platform GfK, such systems are most often used by people aged 18 to 45, especially families with children. Managing your home via voice commands or an app is convenient and fast. Tell the talking speaker to turn off the TV — the cartoons are over (by themselves! Magic!), it's time to go to bed, no whims.
According to statistics, the most popular devices today are robot vacuum cleaners, TVs, kettles and, of course, voice assistants (speakers). As one of the Russian cellular companies notes, the demand for the latter has more than doubled in the past year alone. Interest in related household appliances is also increasing. In general, in 2023, sales of smart home products grew by a record 90%, including products that make ordinary household appliances (smart sockets, switches or relays) controllable.
The ability to automate routine household tasks and reduce energy costs is what makes the idea of a smart home attractive to many. A space in which various devices and systems are networked, connected to the Internet, and controlled through a single center is a concept that is becoming increasingly popular and accessible.
International Data Corporation analysts predict a global average annual growth rate of about 8% for the smart appliance market by 2026. If these expectations are met, in two years the supply of smart home products around the world will reach almost 1.2 billion units. Of these, about 266 million will be monitoring and security systems. Consumers are shifting their interest from fun entertainment (opening and closing curtains, turning on and off the light) to ensuring the reliability and protection of their living space. However, every coin has a downside.
There are many dangers on the Internet, and all devices connected to it become vulnerable. In an effort to automate their daily life, a person can become a victim of intruders operating on the network. Any device with an Internet connection can be hacked. The simplest example is surveillance cameras or the so-called baby monitor, which has long allowed remote video broadcasting from a child's room. By hacking this smart device, a criminal will be able to monitor your life: when you are not at home, where you put documents, what passwords you enter on your devices. By watching you, an intruder can not only manage information about you, but also start blackmailing you.
Almost every manufacturer offers the user to install their smart home application, promising convenience, comfort, safety and full automation of all devices. However, this is often just a marketing ploy. Trying to quickly bring the product to the market, not all companies pay sufficient attention to the issue of data protection: some user manuals, for example, simply do not contain information about the confidentiality of personal information or the security of the device.
It is not for nothing that at the beginning of 2024, the first national standards for smart homes were adopted in Russia, in the development of which the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Ministry of Construction participated. Smart housing technologies are being implemented today not only by individuals. According to a study by the Ministry of Construction of the Russian Federation, 80% of surveyed management companies at the end of 2023 had already worked with similar technologies in the context of apartment buildings or even residential villages. Standardization should make it possible to move from disparate implementations to a systemic approach, including in terms of cybersecurity. Without this step, the operation of the infrastructure of buildings is at risk: possible failures in the operation of heating, gas appliances, electricity supply, and so on.
According to ResearchAndMarkets, the development of artificial intelligence creates opportunities for growth in the smart home market. On the other hand, issues related to information privacy and systemic complexities may negatively affect the implementation of these technologies. Clear mechanisms for protecting smart homes have not yet been developed, so protection from cybercriminals is a task for both management companies and each individual owner.
How do scammers operate when it comes to your smart home? For example, they use unreliable Wi-Fi protection. Manufacturers often use it to combine smart home devices. It is quite simple and cheap: you do not need an additional router to organize an internal network, inexpensive standard Wi-Fi chips can be used in the devices themselves, and it is easier to connect new gadgets. However, this system is quite easy to hack. At the very least, by guessing your password. If attackers gain access to it, they will have all the data that your controllers store on the network. In addition, in this case, criminals can get to your email, social media accounts, and even accounts in payment systems.
Connecting to a smart home via unsecured or public Wi-Fi networks is even more dangerous. Attackers have a greater chance of intercepting data and gaining access to your devices. In principle, it is possible to hack not the connection itself, but a specific device. Many users set simple or easy-to-guess passwords or do not change them at all, leaving the data specified by the manufacturers. The user's smartphone is often hacked - this is how many people control their smart home. It automatically becomes a valuable source of data for attackers. If your phone is hacked, stolen, or tapped, your personal data will be in great danger.
Fraudsters also exploit vulnerabilities in your smart home’s software. Smart devices often run on complex software platforms that may contain bugs. Cybercriminals actively look for such weak spots to gain access to the system. It’s not hard to imagine what they can do if they get to control your home. From completely disabling all functions — locks and alarms don’t work, heating doesn’t work, lights don’t turn on, etc. Or, on the contrary, criminals can control your home by putting you through real torture: turning on different sounds, increasing the temperature to the maximum, broadcasting prohibited content on TV, etc.
If devices are hacked, attackers can also use them by combining them into botnets. These are networks of thousands of devices that can be controlled remotely and, since they have access to the Internet, can be used to carry out DDoS attacks on a variety of objects or organize large-scale spam mailings. Don't forget that smart refrigerators can send messages - and, alas, not only reminding the owner that eggs are running out. At first, the owner may not even realize that the devices have become part of a fraudulent scheme. However, later, the operation of a smart home as part of a botnet will inevitably slow down its entire operation, the owner's IP address can be blocked, and the person can even receive legal claims for malicious activity.
As paradoxical as it may sound, deception can also come in the form of a mailing. Phishing, one of the most common methods of cybercriminals, works here too. Fraudsters send fake emails or messages, disguising themselves as official organizations - for example, as the manufacturers of your smart devices or as representatives of a housing company. In order to trick you into giving up confidential information, such as passwords or bank card details, criminals may ask you to follow certain links, supposedly to update the software of your devices or register on the website of utility services.
How to solve these problems? What cybersecurity rules should be followed when setting up a smart home? First, understand the connection standard and its settings. If you use equipment that involves communication via Wi-Fi, do not impose too serious tasks on the system, use additional options for video surveillance, fire protection systems, alarms and other things related to life safety. It is not difficult to jam a radio signal of a certain frequency, disrupting the functionality of the entire system. In addition, the operation of Wi-Fi is directly related to the functionality of the router. If it fails (or is simply turned off by the same criminals), the smart home network will stop working. If you need reliable protection of your home from intruders and accidents, you should use specialized solutions.
In addition to Wi-Fi, there are other protocols specifically designed to create smart home systems. For example, Zigbee and Z-wave. In the absence of a signal from the center, devices in these networks are able to build an alternative route themselves. Setting up such systems is more difficult, not all ordinary users can handle this, but there are specialists who understand this. Figure out what will be safe for you.
There are manufacturers of equipment that use their own protocol to build a smart home, but their devices rarely gain widespread distribution. Few manage to offer an inexpensive and successful solution that can compete on equal terms with companies that are in a clearly more advantageous position. Study the issue, compare your expectations from a smart home with the capabilities of manufacturers. For those devices that do work via Wi-Fi, take care of additional protection. Set a complex password on the router, use WPA3 encryption and create a guest network for devices that do not require constant access.
Next, access protection. Immediately after purchase, change the default password to your own combination. Use complex combinations of letters of different registers, numbers, and special characters. Do not make your names, addresses, or even pets' names your password. Come up with a unique phrase, put numbers and symbols between words, and do not share this data with anyone. Use your own unique password for each device and service.
Enable two-factor authentication where possible. Use verification of your identity via SMS, email, or verification via a third device. This will add a layer of protection that requires entering additional information in addition to your password.
Pay attention to how and where the hub — the control center of your smart home — stores information. By uploading backup copies to a cloud server, a smart home frees the owner from the need to independently monitor the preservation of the device configuration. However, if the data is in open form, hackers can get to not only the equipment control system, but also personal data, which they then use in their machinations. Study the characteristics of different smart home organization systems and give preference to the one that uses encryption for data transmission and storage. This will make it difficult for cybercriminals to access even if the information is intercepted.
Update your devices' software regularly. But do this only from reliable certified sources. Manufacturers often release updates that eliminate known vulnerabilities. Do not follow links that come from unknown addresses or phone numbers, use only official sites.
Protecting yourself from cybercriminals is an ongoing process that requires attention and awareness. By following the above recommendations, you will significantly reduce the risk of hacking and keep your home safe. Your smart home should be your fortress. Of course, also smart.
Source
To prevent intruders from being smarter than your smart home, you should know about the main types of threats and take care to prevent them. How to do this - explained in the material.
Everything would be fine if it weren't for...
More than half of Russians living in large cities enjoy the benefits of a smart home. Another 23% plan to do so in the near future. According to a study by the analytical platform GfK, such systems are most often used by people aged 18 to 45, especially families with children. Managing your home via voice commands or an app is convenient and fast. Tell the talking speaker to turn off the TV — the cartoons are over (by themselves! Magic!), it's time to go to bed, no whims.
According to statistics, the most popular devices today are robot vacuum cleaners, TVs, kettles and, of course, voice assistants (speakers). As one of the Russian cellular companies notes, the demand for the latter has more than doubled in the past year alone. Interest in related household appliances is also increasing. In general, in 2023, sales of smart home products grew by a record 90%, including products that make ordinary household appliances (smart sockets, switches or relays) controllable.
The ability to automate routine household tasks and reduce energy costs is what makes the idea of a smart home attractive to many. A space in which various devices and systems are networked, connected to the Internet, and controlled through a single center is a concept that is becoming increasingly popular and accessible.
International Data Corporation analysts predict a global average annual growth rate of about 8% for the smart appliance market by 2026. If these expectations are met, in two years the supply of smart home products around the world will reach almost 1.2 billion units. Of these, about 266 million will be monitoring and security systems. Consumers are shifting their interest from fun entertainment (opening and closing curtains, turning on and off the light) to ensuring the reliability and protection of their living space. However, every coin has a downside.
There are many dangers on the Internet, and all devices connected to it become vulnerable. In an effort to automate their daily life, a person can become a victim of intruders operating on the network. Any device with an Internet connection can be hacked. The simplest example is surveillance cameras or the so-called baby monitor, which has long allowed remote video broadcasting from a child's room. By hacking this smart device, a criminal will be able to monitor your life: when you are not at home, where you put documents, what passwords you enter on your devices. By watching you, an intruder can not only manage information about you, but also start blackmailing you.
The need for standardization
Almost every manufacturer offers the user to install their smart home application, promising convenience, comfort, safety and full automation of all devices. However, this is often just a marketing ploy. Trying to quickly bring the product to the market, not all companies pay sufficient attention to the issue of data protection: some user manuals, for example, simply do not contain information about the confidentiality of personal information or the security of the device.
It is not for nothing that at the beginning of 2024, the first national standards for smart homes were adopted in Russia, in the development of which the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the Ministry of Construction participated. Smart housing technologies are being implemented today not only by individuals. According to a study by the Ministry of Construction of the Russian Federation, 80% of surveyed management companies at the end of 2023 had already worked with similar technologies in the context of apartment buildings or even residential villages. Standardization should make it possible to move from disparate implementations to a systemic approach, including in terms of cybersecurity. Without this step, the operation of the infrastructure of buildings is at risk: possible failures in the operation of heating, gas appliances, electricity supply, and so on.
According to ResearchAndMarkets, the development of artificial intelligence creates opportunities for growth in the smart home market. On the other hand, issues related to information privacy and systemic complexities may negatively affect the implementation of these technologies. Clear mechanisms for protecting smart homes have not yet been developed, so protection from cybercriminals is a task for both management companies and each individual owner.
Outsmarting the Smart Home
How do scammers operate when it comes to your smart home? For example, they use unreliable Wi-Fi protection. Manufacturers often use it to combine smart home devices. It is quite simple and cheap: you do not need an additional router to organize an internal network, inexpensive standard Wi-Fi chips can be used in the devices themselves, and it is easier to connect new gadgets. However, this system is quite easy to hack. At the very least, by guessing your password. If attackers gain access to it, they will have all the data that your controllers store on the network. In addition, in this case, criminals can get to your email, social media accounts, and even accounts in payment systems.
Connecting to a smart home via unsecured or public Wi-Fi networks is even more dangerous. Attackers have a greater chance of intercepting data and gaining access to your devices. In principle, it is possible to hack not the connection itself, but a specific device. Many users set simple or easy-to-guess passwords or do not change them at all, leaving the data specified by the manufacturers. The user's smartphone is often hacked - this is how many people control their smart home. It automatically becomes a valuable source of data for attackers. If your phone is hacked, stolen, or tapped, your personal data will be in great danger.
Spam from the fridge
Fraudsters also exploit vulnerabilities in your smart home’s software. Smart devices often run on complex software platforms that may contain bugs. Cybercriminals actively look for such weak spots to gain access to the system. It’s not hard to imagine what they can do if they get to control your home. From completely disabling all functions — locks and alarms don’t work, heating doesn’t work, lights don’t turn on, etc. Or, on the contrary, criminals can control your home by putting you through real torture: turning on different sounds, increasing the temperature to the maximum, broadcasting prohibited content on TV, etc.
If devices are hacked, attackers can also use them by combining them into botnets. These are networks of thousands of devices that can be controlled remotely and, since they have access to the Internet, can be used to carry out DDoS attacks on a variety of objects or organize large-scale spam mailings. Don't forget that smart refrigerators can send messages - and, alas, not only reminding the owner that eggs are running out. At first, the owner may not even realize that the devices have become part of a fraudulent scheme. However, later, the operation of a smart home as part of a botnet will inevitably slow down its entire operation, the owner's IP address can be blocked, and the person can even receive legal claims for malicious activity.
As paradoxical as it may sound, deception can also come in the form of a mailing. Phishing, one of the most common methods of cybercriminals, works here too. Fraudsters send fake emails or messages, disguising themselves as official organizations - for example, as the manufacturers of your smart devices or as representatives of a housing company. In order to trick you into giving up confidential information, such as passwords or bank card details, criminals may ask you to follow certain links, supposedly to update the software of your devices or register on the website of utility services.
Punctures and protocols
How to solve these problems? What cybersecurity rules should be followed when setting up a smart home? First, understand the connection standard and its settings. If you use equipment that involves communication via Wi-Fi, do not impose too serious tasks on the system, use additional options for video surveillance, fire protection systems, alarms and other things related to life safety. It is not difficult to jam a radio signal of a certain frequency, disrupting the functionality of the entire system. In addition, the operation of Wi-Fi is directly related to the functionality of the router. If it fails (or is simply turned off by the same criminals), the smart home network will stop working. If you need reliable protection of your home from intruders and accidents, you should use specialized solutions.
In addition to Wi-Fi, there are other protocols specifically designed to create smart home systems. For example, Zigbee and Z-wave. In the absence of a signal from the center, devices in these networks are able to build an alternative route themselves. Setting up such systems is more difficult, not all ordinary users can handle this, but there are specialists who understand this. Figure out what will be safe for you.
There are manufacturers of equipment that use their own protocol to build a smart home, but their devices rarely gain widespread distribution. Few manage to offer an inexpensive and successful solution that can compete on equal terms with companies that are in a clearly more advantageous position. Study the issue, compare your expectations from a smart home with the capabilities of manufacturers. For those devices that do work via Wi-Fi, take care of additional protection. Set a complex password on the router, use WPA3 encryption and create a guest network for devices that do not require constant access.
Passwords and encryption
Next, access protection. Immediately after purchase, change the default password to your own combination. Use complex combinations of letters of different registers, numbers, and special characters. Do not make your names, addresses, or even pets' names your password. Come up with a unique phrase, put numbers and symbols between words, and do not share this data with anyone. Use your own unique password for each device and service.
Enable two-factor authentication where possible. Use verification of your identity via SMS, email, or verification via a third device. This will add a layer of protection that requires entering additional information in addition to your password.
Pay attention to how and where the hub — the control center of your smart home — stores information. By uploading backup copies to a cloud server, a smart home frees the owner from the need to independently monitor the preservation of the device configuration. However, if the data is in open form, hackers can get to not only the equipment control system, but also personal data, which they then use in their machinations. Study the characteristics of different smart home organization systems and give preference to the one that uses encryption for data transmission and storage. This will make it difficult for cybercriminals to access even if the information is intercepted.
Update your devices' software regularly. But do this only from reliable certified sources. Manufacturers often release updates that eliminate known vulnerabilities. Do not follow links that come from unknown addresses or phone numbers, use only official sites.
Protecting yourself from cybercriminals is an ongoing process that requires attention and awareness. By following the above recommendations, you will significantly reduce the risk of hacking and keep your home safe. Your smart home should be your fortress. Of course, also smart.
Source
