{"id":52950,"date":"2016-09-28T01:57:00","date_gmt":"2016-09-28T08:57:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.mcafee.com\/?p=52950"},"modified":"2025-08-15T02:58:35","modified_gmt":"2025-08-15T09:58:35","slug":"protect-smart-home-security-threats","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mcafee.com\/blogs\/privacy-identity-protection\/protect-smart-home-security-threats\/","title":{"rendered":"How to protect your smart home from security threats"},"content":{"rendered":"

This blog post was written by Nick Viney.<\/em><\/p>\n

Have you downloaded the new iOS10 on your iPhone? If you have, you might have noticed a new app called \u2018My Home\u2019 which allows you to \u201cbuild your connected home by adding lights, locks, thermostats and other HomeKit-enabled accessories.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

This is the latest step in the world of the Internet of Things and interconnected smart devices. While many will celebrate this advancement in technology, the blossoming Internet of Things is top of the cybersecurity agenda at the moment due to the risks involved with home devices being connected to smartphones, and thus open to hacking<\/span><\/p>\n

Smart homes were certainly one of the most discussed topics at this year\u2019s Black Hat USA conference, which was hosted last month in Las Vegas. At the event, McAfee researchers provided new insights into how ransomware could affect and infect a smart home by identifying a vulnerability in a home automation appliance and executing an exploitation of the vulnerability, allowing an attacker to plant ransomware or malware on the device.<\/span><\/p>\n

The problem, as Gary Davis, McAfee\u2019s <\/span>Chief Consumer Security Evangelist, <\/span>points out in his blog<\/span><\/a>, is that security isn\u2019t being built into smart devices, rather it\u2019s being \u2018bolted on\u2019. That means that if an appliance fails it is automatically open to new security threats. Instead, smart devices need to have a safe and reliable default mode to revert to, as well as remote updating capabilities. This is the responsibility of manufacturers, but consumers can take steps to protect themselves and their smart devices.<\/span><\/p>\n

Tips to Secure Smart Devices<\/h2>\n

Given that 71% of Americans expect <\/span>at least one smart device to be in every home<\/span><\/a> by 2025, how can homeowners protect themselves and their smart devices? We\u2019ve provided some tips below:<\/span><\/p>\n