The number of IoT devices will reach 25 billion worldwide. It’s a prediction by global research firm Gartner. We, as a society, are more exposed to the internet of things than ever – from smartphones and smart cars to voice-activated assistants, we are all surrounded by them.
If you’re going for smart devices, you need to be smart about issues too. Here are nine common IoT mistakes and how to avoid them.
Not changing default Username and Password
People often forget to change the default password on their smart devices which makes it very easy to hack into their devices as these default passwords are often the same for a manufacturer, are weak and easy to guess.
So, everyone must change the password as soon as they buy a new device. Apart from this, a combo of alphanumeric and special characters makes a secure password!
Not updating regularly
Devices connected to the internet can get updates quite frequently and getting those updates repeatedly can be annoying. Ultimately, we tend to ignore these, and hackers take advantage.
To prevent this, we must update our device’s firmware regularly as they contain bug fixes and they make your devices run smoother and safer.
Allowing too many permissions
Whenever you buy and use a new smart device, we get a prompt that asks for permission to access the microphone, camera and sometimes even your contacts. You need to be careful and selective while allowing these permissions.
One should allow minimum permissions and only give specific permissions when needed (WhatsApp may require permission to your contacts but the new shopping app you downloaded doesn’t).
Buying cheap alternatives
Today, the market is flooded with more affordable options for popular products which surprisingly do the job. But, these devices have weaker security and live support.
Buying cheap is okay. But one thing to ensure is the security doesn’t get compromised. So, before purchasing any product, their security specifications and support strength should be checked.
Connecting to unknown networks
Public Wi-Fi is a common thing nowadays. But, attackers may create a bogus network and can get access to your secret credentials when you connect to their network.
Before connecting to any new or open network, it’s credibility and source must always be checked.
Leaving your router to be vulnerable
A router can be a sweet spot for the attackers if you make this simple mistake – not changingthe password at the time of installation.
Router passwords must be changed from the default one to a new one, and it must be strong enough. Never keep your router’s Wi-Fi network open. Always use WPA2 security and regularly update the firmware.
Keeping the connection always-on
Some devices need to be connected all the time to the internet. Devices, when kept connected all the time to the internet, may be vulnerable.
Devices must be bought after checking their offline functionality too.
Not accounting future needs
You may buy a product that suits your current needs without even keeping in mind the future requirements and then scaling the system later costs too much.
So, products that have proper scalability functions should be bought.
Not backing up data
Data is one of the most potent resources in today’s world, and resources must be maintained. Some device failures may result in data loss.
So, everyone must store their data in more than one place, which should be secure.
