RANGE REVIEW: SECURITY & SAFETY
THINK SMARTER
Smart home devices/appliances, which can remotely be controlled over wifi by smartphones and tablets, have
A 10 DIY WEEK 28 SEPTEMBER 2018
recent report found that 44% of UK consumers now have more than three smart home products.
enabled property owners to automate everyday tasks, like the recording of gas/electricity consumption, the adjustment of room temperatures and control of lights. In turn, these ‘smart home technologies’ have provided individuals with more comfort, better energy efficiency and added security within their homes. In fact, 40% of
but sometimes smart can be really stupid,” explains security expert Mary-Jo de Leeuw.
The smart home category is seeing huge growth, with demand for connected products rapidly increasing but how secure are these devices and do you understand the threat? Fiona Garcia reports
Brits say smart home technology has improved their standard of living. However, whilst these products can make life more convenient for users, many devices are vulnerable to hackers and misuse by a mailicious party – a threat that consumers are starting to wake up to.
“The world is getting smarter
“People want to innovate things but they aren’t thinking about hacking or cybersecurity,” she adds. Mary-Jo’s company, the Internet of Toys, is an international community that looks at issues surrounding high-tech and connected toys. She founded the online platform when she got tired of the ease with which she could hack the toys that were made available to her, including an activity watch issued to children by the Dutch government that was sharing the youngsters’ GPS data and personal information. Since then, she has moved into looking at products in the DIY market, working with a team of ‘ethical hackers’ to test devices and how secure they are.
“Some examples of things we’ve been able to hack easily are an LG smart vacuum cleaner. For a few hundred pounds, you could pay someone to hack that and take pictures or videos via the camera.
www.diyweek.net
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