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

Should You Worry About Smart Home Hacking In Utica?

In many ways, smart devices like surveillance systems and video doorbells have boosted our home security. We have the ability to receive notifications when a visitor arrives at our front steps, and we can have video clips delivered to us when dubious movements are found. Having implements we can communicate with via the internet alerts us to developing hazards instantaneously. But there is one primary downside. The quick access that benefits us is also cracking a door open for virtual intrusions.

Although you shouldn’t lose sleep worrying about smart home hacking in Utica, you ought to be aware of the risk involved and take action to circumvent it.

Ways To Block Smart Home Hacking

It seems that practically everything is joined to the internet nowadays - home security devices, TVs, and even your everday appliances like ranges and refrigerators. The issue is that this creates more pathways for virtual villains to sneak into your network. Even so, you don’t need to forgo wireless home security systems or other smart appliances. Instead, abide by these recommendations and take steps to keep prowlers out of your network.


  • Create strong passwords: This is a necessity for every account, including your wireless configuration. Use lower and upper casing and an assortment of letters, special characters, and numbers. Avoid birthdays, anniversaries, or anything else hackers may easily figure out. A password creator will give you something absolutely random and password management software may aid you in keeping tabs on your different accounts and passwords.


  • Change default settings: When you first unbox your new router, chances are it will come with a preset password to facilitate the setup. Adjust it immediately. Hackers will be aware of these default settings too. Setting up your Wi-Fi network and home router correctly from day one will go a long way to keeping you secure.


  • Set up more than one network: Why put your smart oven, your security devices, and your work laptop on the same network? The majority of routers allow you to set up a different guest network. Make use of it and safeguard personal material present on your desktop, laptop, and phone.


  • Install a firewall: Firewalls aren’t just for commercial networks. They can also be integrated with your home network. Firewalls will pay close attention to your network’s traffic and thwart suspect activity. You could start with a router with a built-in firewall.


  • Use the most up-to-date encryption standards and security protocols: If you’re using a newer router, you might be able to utilize WPA3, the latest wireless security protocol. If that’s not an option, WPA2 with AES encryption will do the job. You ought to look for home security components that protect with 128-bit encryption or higher.


  • Be certain firmware and software is up-to-date: Keep your firmware and software on the most recent version for all devices, and that includes your networked camera surveillance. In some cases, these updates will patch vulnerabilities and bolster your network’s security.
 

Beware of Shoddy Smart Home Devices In Utica

One of the benefits of turning to a reputable brand like ADT is having the assurance that security devices are consistently being inspected to check for flaws hackers could take advantage of. Other off-the-shelf brands may not be so conscientious. Purchasing your smart thermostat, video doorbell, surveillance system, and additional items from a lone reputable company like ADT is a wise choice. And getting all of your components connected simultaneously will go a long way to ensuring flawless implementation, operation, and security. It’s also worthwhile to point out that ADT Command, your centralized touchscreen, employs two-way encryption when communicating with your connected devices.

Customize Your Own Utica Home Defense Package

As you now have more knowledge on how to keep your private network secure, it’s time to begin designing your own home security in Utica. The security experts at Secure24 Alarm Systems are here to customize the ideal package for your property. Contact us at (315) 367-2727 or fill out the form to get started.