If that sounds familiar, we have some suggestions for you. Let’s talk about how you can increase protection for your smart home devices. Encrypting a network is not an intuitive process for the average person, so we suggest you find a guide specific to your router type. To protect your smart device accounts, we suggest taking some password-related steps. This two-factor wrinkle makes it more difficult or even impossible for another person to log in. If someone gets ahold of your password, they also need your personal device to access your accounts. You may also want to change the way a piece of equipment is set up. Your garage door opener might come with a pre-programmed passcode that’s the same as a bunch of other garage door openers’. Make sure to change that ASAP. To keep your smart home (and your identity) safe, don’t click on unexpected links.

Protect your Wi-Fi Keep your passwords close to the chest Update your equipment Watch out for hacker tricks

Enjoy your smart setup, worry-free. You generally want to start with a smart home hub with a voice assistant and connecting app. Then you can choose compatible products like plugs, lights, deadbolts, locks, home security, and cameras. And don’t forget a smartphone to control all your new IoT devices! Some products, like Ring or SimpliSafe cameras or the Bitdefender Box, have had publicized breaches. If you follow our safety tips, you hopefully won’t be vulnerable to such attacks, but it’s good to check and see how the manufacturer handles those situations. You don’t want to put your safety in the hands of a cavalier company.

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