How to Secure Your IoT Devices

First off, what is an IoT device? IoT stands for “Internet of Things”, and it’s a technical way of referring to the web of connected devices in your home or place of business. While many people today feel outside of this web, you and everyone you know are becoming more and more connected, far more connected than you may realize. The average home or office contains multiple connected devices, typically around five. These IoT devices can include smart TVs, refrigerators, gaming devices, printers, satellite receivers, media players, baby monitors, and even wireless cameras used inside or on doorbells, thermostats, and wearables like fitness trackers and smart watches. All of these devices, whether you think about it or not, sync with an internet network. Because of this, hackers have the ability to hijack these devices and use them as a backdoor into your network. Once in your network, they have access to your files and sensitive information.

This is why we at The Teneo Group feel it’s necessary to educate people on the responsibility that comes with being connected. The internet is a wonderful thing, but as with most things, it doesn’t come without its price. It’s essential to be knowledgeable about what it means to linked to a network and how you can protect yourself and your information. To get you started, we’ve listed several ways you can avoid a hacked network and secure your IoT devices.

1. Set up different passwords for your devices, and make them strong. Using a separate password for each device makes it more challenging for hackers to access them, as with using stronger passwords. “Smith1234” is not a password. It’s an invitation for your network to be compromised.
2. Disable or set up a separate guest network. This is particularly important for businesses so that visitors do not have access to shared files.
3. Don’t connect all your devices if you don’t need to. If you don’t use the internet capabilities of your device, why leave it vulnerable?
4. Turn off Universal Plug and Play. UPnP allows your devices to automatically sync up with one another, but it also makes it easier for hackers to sync up with them as well.
5. Use caution when enabling cloud services. Read your provider’s privacy policy and make sure your encryption and data are protected.
6. Keep firmware updated. Improvements are always being made to security measures, but they can’t protect you if you don’t stay up on the latest capabilities.
7. Try not to take your personal devices to places where they’ll sync up with other networks. Offices, coffee shops, even medical offices tend to have their own network, but it’s best to stick to your own to avoid becoming part of security issues.
8. Be aware of your devices. Don’t let them sit dormant. Track them and be mindful of what’s going on with them. Keep them updated and monitor when there seems to be a problem.

In today’s world, we’re all vulnerable; that’s the price of being connected. Taking proper security measures with your IoT devices can go a long way to keep you protected, however. For further information and expert help with keeping your network secure, contact us at The Teneo Group at 888-814-9995.