As the demand for smart home devices grows, the number of attacks on IoT devices also increases. Simple vulnerabilities with smart devices like stoves, fridges, and even routers have resulted in unauthorized users obtaining access to the home. Unfortunately, many users will now avoid using IoT products, even though many failures arise from wrong user configuration.
IoT security plays a crucial role in the growth of home devices. Below are several tips for safeguarding your smart home and IoT devices.
1. Find the best router setup.
Your Wi-Fi router is the key to your smart home. A proper router setup can prevent your home from cyber-attacks. That means a good router is more important than ever. Streaming Netflix TV, making calls, dimming lights, and adjusting the temperature in your place is all handled over wireless internet, provided by a Wi-Fi router.
Follow these strategies to set up a reliable router:
- Adjust the name of the router
Please don’t stick to the default name of your router. Hackers can easily discover the naming structure of various routers and guess your default username and password, and fast enter your smart home network.
Instead, switch it to a unique name. Get creative with the name of your router but don’t offer personal details.
- Set a unique password
Set the password of the router to something unique. Try to make a memorable password using alphabets, digits, and special symbols. Think about creating an unbreakable password using a random password generator.
- Use a lot of encryption standards.
Most routers have various encryption options. Consider WPA2, which is one of the highest degrees of encryption. Upgrade your router if it only provides WPA or WEP. Home routers are more IoT priorities for hackers. Hence, a stable router transforms into a particularly safer and smart home.
The Teltonika RUT240 is an excellent entry-level cellular router with very many key security features out of the box. It can also be configured endlessly to match your home, small business, or commercial application
2. Use Secure Passwords for ALL IoT devices.
Besides the password for your Wi-Fi network, there are other places where you need the right password. For instance, you need to build an account and sign in to access your IoT gadgets. Devices usually have smartphone applications that need specific login credentials.
It is now essential for any IoT device account and app to build unique credentials. It means that other devices remain unchanged, even if the password affects any one of the tools.
The obvious drawback is to recall several codes, which is a hassle. When you’re writing them down, make sure it’s secure and hidden away. But it is best to use a program to handle passwords to store unlimited single passwords, build new ones, and synchronize them between many devices.
3. Set up a private network
While several owners develop many networks for visitors and friends, you can choose to create a separate system for your IoT devices. In case of a network failure, secure the confidential information on a different network, including health and financial records.
4. Update your devices
It is recommended that you regularly check for software updates on your Wi-Fi router. These updates include major security releases that can improve your network’s security.
.Many IoT gadgets won’t upgrade immediately but notify you to do so when accessible. Ensure you make check the administration panel for your IoT devices every few months and install updates.
5. Enable Two-Factor Authentication
Multi-factor authentication an extra security layer beyond a simple password. When a user attempts to log into your IoT device with two-factor authentication, there are at least 2 points of verification.
Verification is usually in the form of a one-time pin (OTP), an email, or a security code that indicates that you are the person to log in.
Many smart devices have a default feature of multi-factor authentication; still, some tools do not. In this scenario, you can enable two-factor authentication (2FA) using third-party applications like Google Authenticator. With 2FA, you have an extra layer of safety from a trusted third-party provider.
6. Weaken the UPnP
Plug and play is a blend of hardware and software help that permits the identification and alteration of a computer system to identify hardware configuration modifications and change them with minimal or no user interaction.
Universal Plug and Play is a process that facilitates you to find a network to share data fast. UPnP is easy but is prone to two major mistakes:
- Errors in code allow harmful users to manipulate and inject a damaging message.
- An unforeseen exposure makes network devices on other network devices promptly accessible. After all, public networks provide access to specific UPnP command protocols, allowing hackers to enter and locate connected computers.
Often turn off UPnP on your IoT devices. It prohibits you from exchanging data regularly on insecure networks with malicious users.