Does more technology equal a safer home?

By Stephanie Walden2014-11-19 16:51:16 UTC

We've got more technology than ever before there are apps to help us accomplish everything from cleaning our homes and compiling a grocery list to monitoring our belongings from afar. And when it comes to smart home tech, it seems as if nearly everything is now automated.

But with this influx of technology comes a whole new breed of criminal hackers and tech-savvy "bad guys" pose threats to security, for both physical and virtual intrusions of your home.

"It used to be that firewalls were a much better means of security," says Jerry Irvine, a member of the National Cyber Security Task Force, a joint task force between the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Homeland Security. "Today, because we want to connect to things on the other side of the firewall, you have to open up ports which is the [equivalent to] Swiss cheese. It's like taking a section out of the fence around your house so you can get in anyone else can get in that way, too."

And on the other hand, improved tech makes it easier than ever for us to monitor, protect and automate our homes so what's the final verdict? Is all of this technology making us (actually) safer? We compiled a list of the pros and cons of a smart tech-connected home below, as well as a list of expert suggestions for making your smart home as secure as possible.

Here's a look at some of the risks to home security that are worth considering in today's digital world.

High-tech is highly enticing to criminals: Your top-of-the line 78" flatscreen and surround-sound system is a pride point whenever the neighbors come over on game day but they're also enticing items for thieves and criminals when you're on the go. As anyone who has ever had their iPhone stolen can attest, the latest and greatest gadgets tend to attract a number of scams and thefts and criminals are getting creative in their efforts to get their hands on your tech. In addition, from a software perspective, the more smart devices in your home, the more opportunity for criminals to infiltrate your network and learn about your habits or steal your information.

Criminals are using technology themselves: Criminals are becoming more tech-savvy, too. And security bugs like Heartbleed and high-profile hacks like the Target and Home Depot incidents from this past year aren't exactly confidence-inspiring. (In the case of the Target breach, evidence suggests that the entry-point for the attack actually occurred though a third-party heating and air conditioning vendor.) There are even cases where criminals use your technology against you: Cars can be broken into and GPS units stolen, giving criminals crucial information about your work and travel habits not to mention your home address.

And that urban legend about your computer's built-in camera being used to spy on you and your home? Not such a myth, says Irvine. These types of hacks are possible and even probable if consumers don't take the proper security measures to ensure their devices and home networks are secure.

See the article here:
Does more technology equal a safer home?