Gadgets. Every day there are new gadgets – for home, for work, for your car – there are new gadgets for everything and more and more they are connected. It’s called the Internet if Things (IoT). It’s so easy to say, “Alexa, play Radar Love by Golden Earring” and the guitars start riffing. But that song’s not on your hard drive – it’s coming from the internet.

These days everything is smart - even commodes (eww). You can turn on the house lights from your phone, unlock your front door, even your air purifier knows when the air in the house is going to put a hurt on your sinuses. I think my house is already smarter than I am. I may have to work on a doctorate degree just to keep up.

With all this connectivity, we tilt the lid back a little more on a potential Pandora’s Box. The question is:

Is a smart home a good idea?

It would seem that the answer would be a resounding ‘YES!’ But why?

1) Convenience. Walking through the house and having doors open and lights turn as you approach is… well, cool. Turning on you’re A/C or heat when you’re on your way home beats sweating or shivering for a while when you do get there. There are undoubtedly many benefits.

2) Conservation. Speaking of A/C and heat, how many folks have turned either one on when they left for work – and let it run all day so it would be comfortable when they got home? That is irresponsible these days, but let’s not pretend people haven’t done it – or continue to do it. Also, if you don’t mind a little external control, SmartGrid.gov suggests the installation of Smart Meters, which enable your energy provider to lessen your power usage during peak hours. Whether you want Edison or the LA Department of Water & Power turning off you’re A/C when it’s 100 degrees at 5 PM is up to you.

There is certainly evidence that supports the fact that smart devices save energy, but how much? Science Direct reports, “A study performed by the HDB and Energy Market Authority Singapore (EMA) showed a reduction of energy consumption by 20% after implementing Home Energy Management System (HEMS).” That’s nothing to sneeze at (if you do sneeze, ask Alexa to adjust your smart humidifier).

3) Safety. A smart home with an advanced security system uses motion sensors, cameras, wired doors and windows etc. goes a long way toward keeping wolves away from your door.

4) Insurance savings. More and more Insurance companies are offering better rates for Smart Homes.

5) Enhanced Accessibility. Seniors and the disabled absolutely benefit from a well-planned Smart Home.

How can I protect my IoT?

If you are unsure of your technological capabilities this might be the pace for a visit from a qualified IT consulting services technician.

There are a number of basic precautions to take:
1) Strong Encryption. Use Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA).
2)Strong Passwords. Here on our IT Support LA website, we provide tips HERE.
3) Multi-factor authentication. Password, then a personal question, thumbprint, scan card or retinal scan, among others.
4) Guest Networks. Set it up so that even if hackers get into your guest network, they will not gain entry your main network or your primary internet access. Use this network for any visitors who wish to use your home Wi-Fi.
5) No remote public Wi-Fi. Do not stop outside a Starbucks and use their W-Fi to communicate with your home Smart devices.
6) No router default settings. Change the name and the password of your router. Hackers are often familiar with default settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q:Is having a smart home safe?

A:  By safe, we mean by Cybersecurity standards. A smart house still can’t prevent someone throwing a brick through your window, but it will cause your alarm to go off.

Home Smartness opens you up to a slew of Cybersecurity vulnerabilities. FACT: Once you connect, crooks are looking for you.

Do IT support experts like smart homes? Ask just about anybody within the IT Support Los Angeles Community, and it will be rare to find anyone that does NOT have at least a few Smart features in their homes. Let’s face it: by and large IT services folk LOVE gadgets. But they also know how to protect their IoT devices from cyber criminals.

This is not to say that you will need IT consulting services to set up the Cybersecurity for your smart home, but it would a waste of money. As a Managed IT Services provider, IT Support LA mostly provides full IT Services to businesses on a monthly retainer basis, but we have provided Cybersecurity measures for consumers on a project basis. Just like a business network, a Smart Home does need proper defenses.

Q: Is smart home technology worth it?

A: It’s subjective. If you are interested in saving energy/saving money, you get a solid financial value from it. The convenience factor is immeasurable. You get your popcorn, settle down in front of the TV, but the lights are too bright. Don’t get up – tell Alexa to do it – this works the same with a LOT of minor ‘forgot to dos’ – like locking the front door, lowering the garage door, even turning on the TV.

Bear in mind if you have very small children in the house – they will learn that they can tell Alexa what to do…

Q: Can people hack into smart homes?

A:  It’s subjective. If you are interested in saving energy/saving money, you get a solid financial value from it. The convenience factor is immeasurable. You get your popcorn, settle down in front of the TV, but the lights are too bright. Don’t get up – tell Alexa to do it – this works the same with a LOT of minor ‘forgot to dos’ – like locking the front door, lowering the garage door, even turning on the TV.

Bear in mind if you have very small children in the house – they will learn that they can tell Alexa what to do…

Q: How do I stop smart home devices from spying on me?

A: This is not a trick question or a joke. Alexa or any counterparts can listen to and transmit your conversations to a 3rd party – as can your smart TV. They can turn on the camera in your laptop or your webcam.

Your basic protections:
Install a firewall.
Automatically update your devices regularly.
Disable your camera and microphone when not in use.
Regularly delete the data on your Voice Assistant like Alexa.
Turn off the Wi-Fi when you leave the house.