IoT devices can be real everyday helpers. In modern smart homes, heating, lighting, and other electrical devices can be controlled with the help of a smartphone or computer at the push of a button. You can even communicate with smart home assistants and give them commands. But which IoT devices / household appliances are really useful? And how can you counter the possible security risks that result from this?

Keep an eye on your home while you are out

Being able to keep an eye on your own house or apartment from anywhere is a really practical idea. This is actually feasible with smart monitors that can be installed for surveillance. It is also possible to receive automatic notifications on the smartphone as soon as unusual activity is detected.

So when you're on vacation, you can still catch intruders in the act with smart surveillance devices and alert the police immediately. With special devices, you can also contact the burglar directly and inform him that you have seen him and that the police are already on their way.

IoT devices that protect against break-ins are definitely a worthwhile investment that can protect your home.

Support and help for those in need of care

Many seniors or people in need of care nowadays no longer want to go to a care home, despite their restrictions, but prefer to stay within their familiar four walls. This is also quite understandable. But what if something does happen?

There are smart home technologies that register falls or other unusual movements and then either automatically call relatives or a doctor.

Smart home devices can also be set up to remind people to take medication every day or do important exercises.

Save time and energy with IoT devices

Another very useful thing about the IoT is the fact that it can save both energy and time. Who hasn't had it before that they left the house and suddenly weren't sure whether they switched off the light? Thanks to smart home technology, you don't have to go home again to look, because you can easily control light switches while you are on the move.

However, you can also set certain devices to switch themselves off if they do not detect any movement over a longer period of time.

The dark side of the IoT

As practical and helpful as the IoT is, it also has disadvantages. Every device that is connected to the Internet represents a potential security risk with regard to cyber crime. If hackers find even a single weak point, they can penetrate the entire system. In general, it can be said that the more internet-enabled devices there are, the greater the attack surface there is for cyber criminals.

In order not to have to forgo the convenience of smart home technology, certain security measures should be taken to heart.

Use secure passwords

One topic that everyone should know about by now, but that is still neglected by many, is password protection. Most smart home devices have preset passwords when they are purchased. However, these are usually the same for all devices in the production series. It is therefore important that you do not just continue to use this preset password, but change it to a personal and secure password.

Perform all updates

There are also regular updates for smart home technology that contain improvements. But these updated versions also close security gaps. This means that if you do not carry out updates in a timely manner, you make your system vulnerable to hackers who may have already discovered these vulnerabilities and have already had time to experiment with them. Regardless of which of your devices you see an update for, install it as soon as possible.

Not all devices need to be controlled while on the move

There are also smart home devices that do not even need to be connected to the Internet; it is sufficient if they are connected to the home network. So think about beforehand whether it makes sense to be able to control a device remotely. If not, then it separates it from the open internet.

Another option would be to use your own WiFi, especially for smart home devices. This means that, in the event of an attack, hackers cannot access the data on the PC.

Security and data protection thanks to VPN

With a VPN service, you can protect all of your devices at home. Your data is encrypted and thus optimally protected against unauthorized access. In addition, with a VPN, you are anonymous because nobody sees your personal IP address. So you don't have to worry that websites are constantly collecting data about you. A VPN-capable router is particularly useful for protecting all of your smart home devices.