I disconnected my smart devices…

Few years ago, I started to be more attentive to the devices connected to my network and disconnected some of these "smart" devices. Smart speakers, an old Google TV, another PrimeTV, a bird watcher camera (yep, I had this). Things I haven’t used in months or even years … Why?

1?? After discussing it with my family, I realized we were not using them. Some of these things were no longer supported by the manufacturer and haven’t had a software patch in a long time.

2?? I couldn’t be sure that the devices were still safe. When devices become outdated and are not updated with a new software, they are increasingly vulnerable to cyber threats.

3?? I wasn't sure I could trust the manufacturer of one device (the bird cam). It was recording a scene outside of my house, but still connected to my network.

A lot of us believe these devices connect us more with the world (me included), and can make us more energy efficient, or help us with our everyday tasks. But, how often to you think of the risks?

How would I know if my old smart lights that I can connect to through a vendor portal meets my security expectations? I have no way of knowing. Internet of Things (IoT) vendors often only mention cybersecurity in their marketing, or very briefly. This is why I disconnected a lot of these devices. These devices made my home and family more vulnerable. I used them rarely, so out they went.

For the devices that stayed, I made sure they had the latest updates. For some of you, you may want to enable MFA and strong passwords for the devices that you can access from the web. If I was unable to secure the device or find information about it being secure, I disconnected it.

When we install a device that is connected to our home Internet, we take on the risk that it is susceptible to an attack. Security camera feeds can be seen by other people. Private conversations can be heard through smart speakers. A coffee machine can lead to unauthorized network access (thank you Nicolas Buache for that reminder???).?être en cybersécurité nécessite une vigilance permanente.

Better cybersecurity is an ongoing practice.?????Une meilleure cybersécurité est une pratique permanente.

Thank you for following along with my thoughts during Cybersecurity Awareness Month?????????. I hope the posts from this month (on my account, uOttawa TI | IT and others) helped you look at cybersecurity in different ways and make informed decisions to protect your security at work and at home.

Let me know in private (or in the comments) what other cybersecurity topics you would like me to discuss in the upcoming months.??? ??