As technology advances, more and more homeowners are turning to smart home tech solutions to make their lives easier. These devices allow you to control things like your thermostat, security system, and lights from your smartphone or computer. While this technology can be extremely convenient, it also raises some privacy concerns. In this blog post, we will discuss four facts about smart home tech solutions and privacy that you should know.
1. You are being tracked
While smart home tech solutions can be convenient, they also raise some privacy concerns. One of the biggest concerns with smart home technology is that it can be used to track your movements and activities. This information could be used for marketing purposes or even sold to third parties without your knowledge or consent. Additionally, hackers could gain access to your devices and use them to track your movements and activities as well.
If you are concerned about your privacy, it is important to be aware of the ways that you are being tracked. You should also take steps to protect yourself, such as using a VPN or encrypting your data and there are also various help guides that will show you how to stay private when using these devices. For instance, Apple’s HomeKit system has a feature that allows you to disable data collection and sharing.
2. Some devices are always listening
Another concern with smart home tech solutions is that some of these devices are always listening. This means that they are constantly recording audio and could be transmitting this information to third parties without your knowledge or consent. There have been several reports of people’s private conversations being recorded and shared without their knowledge or consent.
For example, in 2015, it was discovered that the Samsung Smart TV was recording and transmitting people’s private conversations to a third party. In 2018, it was also revealed that Amazon’s Echo device was recording people’s conversations and sharing them with third parties without their knowledge or consent.
3. Your devices could be hacked
Another concern with smart home tech solutions is that your devices could be hacked. This could allow hackers to gain access to your device and use it to spy on you or even control it remotely. Hackers could also use your device to launch attacks on other devices on your network.
There have been several reports of people’s smart devices being hacked. In 2016, it was reported that a family’s Nest camera was hacked and used to spy on them. In 2017, it was also reported that a woman’s Ring camera was hacked and the hacker spoke to her through the device. If you are concerned about your devices being hacked, there are steps you can take to protect yourself. You should keep your devices up to date and be always cautious of the apps you install to prevent any safety issues.
4. You might be inadvertently sharing your data
Another concern with smart home tech solutions is that you might be inadvertently sharing your data. This can happen if you use a service that collects data from your devices and then sells it to third parties without your knowledge or consent. For example, in 2018, it was revealed that the popular smart home platform, Wink, was selling people’s data to third parties without their knowledge or consent. This included information about people’s devices, their usage, and even their location.
Safety tips to bear in mind
If you are concerned about your privacy, there are several steps you can take to protect yourself. Here are some safety tips to bear in mind:
-Be aware of the ways that you are being tracked and take steps to protect your privacy.
-Some devices are always listening so be cautious about what you say around them.
-Your devices could be hacked so make sure you keep them up to date and be cautious of the apps you install on them.
-You might be unwillingly sharing your private data so check the privacy policy of any service you use.
-Consider using a VPN to encrypt your traffic and protect your privacy.
Smart home technology is becoming increasingly popular, but with this comes a number of concerns about privacy and security. In this article, we have highlighted four things you need to know about smart home tech solutions and privacy. These include the fact that your devices could be hacked, that they might be recording and sharing your conversations without your knowledge or consent, and that you might be inadvertently sharing your data. By bearing these things in mind, you can take steps to protect yourself and your privacy. Stay safe and thank you for reading!
