Is your smart home at risk of being hacked? 6 ways experts lock theirs down

"Most of us have some internet of things (IoT) devices at home, whether it's a phone, a tablet, or a collection of security cameras and sensors. When you learn that 120,000 home security cameras were hacked in South Korea for sexploitation footage, it makes you think twice about adding such devices to your home, which is your most sacred space for privacy."

"All smart homes are at risk of being hacked, but it's not a likely event. The type of bad actors that target smart homes and devices, such as security cameras, are opportunistic. They search randomly for easy targets -- they don't tend to choose a particular home to attack and then try to circumvent that specific system. The best way to prevent an attack on your smart home devices is to not be an easy target."

Smart homes contain many IoT devices including phones, tablets, security cameras, and sensors, creating broad attack surfaces. Opportunistic attackers scan for easy targets rather than selecting specific households, so weak passwords, outdated firmware, and exposed Wi‑Fi increase vulnerability. Large-scale breaches, such as the compromise of 120,000 home security cameras in South Korea for sexploitation footage, illustrate severe privacy risks. Effective defenses include using strong unique passwords, enabling multifactor authentication, keeping firmware up to date, securing Wi‑Fi networks, and researching device brands before purchase. Proactive configuration and maintenance significantly lower the likelihood of successful intrusions.

Read at ZDNET