ADT® Authorized Dealer Serving Saginaw & Surrounding Areas
December 05, 2022

Do You Need To Worry About Smart Home Hacking In Saginaw?

In many ways, smart tools like security cameras and video doorbells have made our lives more secure. We have the ability to get updates whenever a stranger walks up to our front door, and we can even have footage delivered to us when dubious behavior is detected. Having components we are able to interact with via the internet alerts us to potential risks immediately. But there is one chief downside. The simple access that keeps us connected is also cracking a door open for online invasions.

Although you don’t have to get yourself in a panic agonizing over smart home hacking in Saginaw, you need to be cognizant of the risk involved and take steps to circumvent it.

Methods To Block Smart Home Hacking

Almost anything can be joined to the internet today - your home defense sensors, smart lights, and even your fridge. The drawback is that this produces more pathways for virtual villains to sneak into your network. That doesn't mean you have to forgo wireless home security systems or other smart devices. Rather, consider these suggestions and take steps to keep prowlers away from your network.


  • Create hard-to-guess passwords: This is a necessity for any account, and that includes your wireless configuration. Use lower and upper casing and a mix of numbers, letters, and special characters. Stay away from birthdays, full words, or anything else hackers might easily guess. A password creator will provide something absolutely random and a password management tool will aid you in keeping tabs on your different passwords and accounts.


  • Change default settings: When you first unbox that new router, it will probably come with a standard password to facilitate the setup. Change it. Hackers are likely to have these default passwords as well. Establishing your Wi-Fi network and new router correctly from day one is vital in keeping you protected.


  • Create separate networks: Why put your smart range, your security sensors, and your home computer on one network? The majority of routers will let you create a different guest network. Take advantage of it and safeguard important material found on your laptop, desktop, and phone.


  • Add protection with a firewall: Firewalls aren’t merely for commercial networks. They may also be integrated with your personal network. Firewalls will keep an eye on what’s happening on your network and stop questionable activity. You could start with a router including a built-in firewall.


  • Use the most up-to-date encryption options and security protocols: If you own a recently manufactured router, you may have the ability to incorporate WPA3, the most up-to-date wireless security protocol. If not, WPA2 with AES encryption is still a good choice. You need to install home security components that use 128-bit or higher.


  • Ensure firmware and software is up-to-date: Keep your software and firmware at the latest levels for all devices, including your connected surveillance units. In some cases, these updates will patch known issues and bolster your network security.
 

Be Cautious of Lower Quality Smart Home Devices In Saginaw

Respected brands like ADT and Google have their reputation to protect and will take steps to fix a security flaw in their devices. Other knock-off products may not be quite as diligent. Purchasing your video cameras, smart thermostat, video doorbell, and other components from a single supplier like ADT is the right move. And deciding to have all of your equipment installed at once will go a long way to ensuring flawless configuration, operation, and security. It’s also good to know that ADT Command, the central touchpad interface, uses two-way encryption when communicating with your connected equipment.

Design Your Own Saginaw Home Security System

Now that you have more knowledge on how to keep your home network secure, you’re ready to start on your own home defense system in Saginaw. The security experts at Secure24 Alarm Systems are ready to create the perfect package for your family. Dial (989) 214-1746 or fill out the form to get started.