Do You Need To Be Concerned About Smart Home Hacking In McAllen?

In various ways, smart tools like surveillance equipment and video doorbells have boosted our home security. We can receive alerts whenever someone arrives at our front door, and we can even have video segments sent to us when suspicious activity is detected. Having devices we may interact with via the internet warns us of potential threats instantly. But there is one main drawback. The quick access that benefits us is also opening a door hackers.

Although you shouldn’t lay awake at night worrying about smart home hacking in McAllen, you need to be aware of the potential safety issue and take action to steer clear of it.

How To Block Smart Home Hacking

It seems that practically everything is connected to the internet today - home security components, TVs, and even your everday appliances like microwaves and refrigerators. The issue is that this creates more opportunities for hackers to sneak into your network. With that being said, you don’t have to eschew wireless home defense systems or other smart appliances. Rather, follow these suggestions and do your part to keep prowlers off your network.

• Protect with hard-to-guess passwords: This is a necessity for every account, including your wireless configuration. Use lower and upper casing and a blend of letters, special characters, and numbers. Avoid birth dates, anniversaries, or other things hackers could easily figure out. A password creator will give you something absolutely random and a password manager will aid you in keeping tabs on your many accounts.
  
  
  
• Change default settings: When you first unbox that new router, it’s likely to come with a preset password to get you started. Don’t forget to update it. Hackers are likely to be aware of these default passwords too. Establishing your private network and router properly at the start will go a long way to keeping you secure.
  
  
  
• Consider more than one network: Why put your smart range, your security sensors, and the laptop you use for work on one network? The majority of routers will let you set up a separate guest network. Be sure to use it and protect important information present on your desktop, laptop, and phone.
  
  
  
• Install a firewall: Firewalls aren’t only for business settings. They may also be integrated with your home network. Firewalls are able to watch your network’s traffic and thwart suspicious activity. You can opt for a router including a built-in firewall.
  
  
  
• Use the most up-to-date encryption settings and security protocols: If you’re using a newer router, you might have the ability to utilize WPA3, the most up-to-date wireless security protocol. If that’s not an option, WPA2 with AES encryption will do the job. You need to look for home security devices that feature 128-bit or higher.
  
  
  
• Ensure software and firmware is updated: Keep your firmware and software up to date for all equipment, including your integrated camera surveillance. Frequently, these updates will fix various susceptibilities and bolster your security.

Be Wary of Shoddy Smart Home Devices In McAllen

Leading companies like ADT and Google have their status to protect and will take steps to fix a security bug in their devices. Other knock-off brands may not act in the same fashion. Purchasing your surveillance systems, video doorbell, smart thermostat, and other components from a single source like ADT is the right move. And getting all of your systems installed at the same time will help ensure seamless configuration, security, and performance. It’s important to note that ADT Command, the hub of your security system, utilizes two-way encryption when engaging with with your connected equipment.

Design Your Own McAllen Wireless Home Security Package

Now that you have more knowledge on how to keep your wireless network safe from cyber criminals, you’re ready to get started on your own home security in McAllen. The security professionals at Secure24 Alarm Systems will help you create the perfect package for your home. Contact us at (956) 291-4643 or fill out the form to take your protection to a new level.