All your smart devices are spying on you

At this point it is It is clear that our smartphones and computers are data –Leaker. Many people cover webcams on their laptops (I always forget about microphones) and smartphones track their location wherever they go. Unfortunately, these tools are an integral part of modern life, accepting a blow to privacy in order to function with society at large. Do what you can to keep your data safe.

But these notorious devices aren’t the only ones invading our lives. Almost every device that connects to the Internet poses privacy and security risks into your life. Smart TVs, lights, refrigerators, vacuum cleaners, locks, thermostats, map services, air conditioners, switches, and even faucets—if “smart” is in the title, you may have a spying problem.

Not all risks are created equal, but it is impossible to use a device designed by a third party to reach another network without some degree of exposure. is both the intention of smart device manufacturers and an unintended consequence of their work. I will explain.

Let’s start with the former. Whether you connect to the Internet or a second Internet-enabled device determines how you respect your privacy. Respect is usually minimal to zero. It is not surprising that smart devices by default track at least some data and send it back to developers or share it with third parties for advertising. Purpose.

We may not know about these data breaches until reported by a whistleblower. Apple contractors were listening to people’s lives Through snippets of Siri recordings. However, you can get a peek at at least some of the data devices and companies are stealing from you through your device settings.

Dive into smart device settings

Most smart devices work by connecting to smartphones. i.e. smartphone app. It could be your smartphone’s built-in home app, such as the Home app on iPhone or his Google Home on Android, or a third-party app such as Smart Life. These apps not only allow you to customize and control the many smart devices that power your smart home, but they also include privacy and security settings shipped by smart device developers. And boy, can you tell what these settings are.

As an example of this work, I offer myself. I don’t have many smart devices at home, but I do like my suite of smart lights.I’ve been using these lights and the 3rd party apps connected to them for years but somehow never jumped in Go to your privacy settings to see what options you can adjust. What is the first option? “Data analytics: allow us to collect data related to the use of our products”

yes. fine. “Data.” Whatever that means.

If the description is as vague as this, it’s possible that my lights are actually offering anything. A developer may simply be tracking when the lights are turned off and on. When I enter and leave the house. Really the range is infinite and I don’t like it. Needless to say, this is the setup for now. invalid.

Another setting I’m seeing turned off right now is “Personalization: Allows you to recommend content through ads and notifications” There is absolutely no need for this smart home app to take my data and try to sell ads based on light usage. Goodbye.

From a privacy standpoint, it’s imperative that you thoroughly explore these settings pages if you want to limit the amount of data you feed into your smart home. For example, on an iPhone,[設定], go to the name of the app to find additional privacy settings, including network connections such as Bluetooth, local networks, and cellular data. If I could, I’d disable all these connections in my smart lights, but unfortunately I can’t adjust the lights from my phone, defeating the purpose. (AI didn’t tell them my location, but that’s something, right?)

However, there is an important point. For many of these devices to function properly, Have Give up your privacy. This is a feature, not a bug. For example, Smart He’s thermostat can’t adjust the temperature on the way home from work if it can’t be communicated from the phone. The same principle applies to any IoT device that requires connectivity to another device in order to function.

It’s perfectly valid if you don’t want to sacrifice that privacy, but a smart home probably isn’t the way for you.

Of course, smart TVs are the exception here. Smart TVs are devices and do not rely on smartphones or apps to function. If so, scroll through the settings on the TV itself to make sure security is tied as tightly as possible. please give me. For more information follow this guide.

Of course, these settings pages don’t tell you everything. Many devices can leak data that we don’t know about, and companies aren’t willing to give us a way to control it.

Smart devices become hacking targets

However, privacy is not the only concern here. Smart devices also pose security risks. Internet-connected devices provide a gateway for hackers to invade your life.Consider how hackers could Use the company’s smart thermostat to infiltrate the target’s system as an entry point. Now think about Smart He’s thermostat installed in the living room.I’m not trying to create an easily hackable device. The code has unpatched vulnerabilities that can be hacked.

Worse yet, consider that some devices can be a trap for data hackers. Hacking smart lights is one thing, but breaking into smart speakers and listening to all conversations, breaking into smart cameras and look All your conversations are a whole other matter. Even something as harmless as a smart light should not be ignored, as sophisticated attacks can leverage smart light connectivity to infiltrate entire networks.

Keep the device disconnected from the main network if possible. You can prevent these attacks if you can keep communicating only with your cell phone and not with the general Wi-Fi ( For iPhone, this means leaving Bluetooth and local network enabled, and disabling Wi-Fi). However, many of these devices require an internet connection to function, so we recommend using reputable brands with a history of good security. It’s unlikely that you’ll be the target of such hacks, but it’s at least possible, so it’s something to consider.