Josh G | Social Media & Content Lead
If you have a smart home, you’ll know the joys of dimming your living room lights, putting the dishwasher on and turning up the heating, all with a few taps on your phone. But you might not know that these smart devices are also vulnerable to cyber attacks.
It can sound far-fetched, but if cyber criminals can hack your fridge, they could bring your whole network down. At which point they’ll know a lot more than just how much low-fat Greek yoghurt you get through in a week. The number one way to stop something like this happening, is to make sure they can’t access your network in the first place.
As a Cuckoo customer, you’ll have all the clever security features that come with an eero router, but here are 7 key things you can do do be extra safe:
1. Perfect the passwords 🔒
This one's a no-brainer, but it’s always worth highlighting. Your passwords are the main line of defense against would-be hackers. And as well as having a formidable password for your Wi-Fi network, you should also have different ones for every smart device, because nothing good can happen from your laptop and your oven sharing a password.
We recommend using a password manager to help keep on top of this. And for extra security, use two-factor identification.
2. Create a guest Wi-Fi 🧑🤝🧑
Don’t just hand out your main password to anyone who’s popped round. Instead, create a guest network that allows internet-only access. You can even go one step further and decide what they can do and how long they can do it for (particularly good for when your teenager has a sleepover). Last but not least, you can delete it when they leave.
3. Don’t dally on software updates 📱
Yes, they can be annoying. Yes, they can take longer than we'd like. And yes, they seem to pop up every other week. But avoiding software updates massively increases the vulnerability of your devices. So, when you get the prompt, just do it. The series finale will still be there when it's done, promise.
4. Stick to well-known apps and software ✅
While it’s great to support your local – ahem, Silicon Valley – startup, don't take risks on unknown apps and software downloads you bring into your network. Do some research and make sure you’re totally confident about who they are and what they offer. Otherwise, just stick to your Rings, Nests and Amazons and only download apps and software from trusted sources, like Google Play or the App Store.
5. So long, old and unwanted devices 👋
Most router settings will allow you to see which devices are connected to the internet, how much bandwidth they’re using and when they last connected. So if that Facebook Portal you bought during lockdown is still connecting to your Wi-Fi, you can easily boot it from your network.
6. Monitor your network
Your eero (and most modern routers) comes with settings that can alert you to potential security issues and show you how well everything’s performing. Set a monthly reminder in your calendar and keep an eye on your network.
Also, if you’re able to, you should lock down your kids’ devices and block content using eero’s content monitoring tools.
7. Delete your data
Having a smart home is sometimes a trade-off over how much of your personal info you share so you can have things just the way you like them. That said, you can and should get rid of your data from time to time. e.g. Delete your voice commands and conversations with Alexa, before someone can see just how much sugar is in that cake recipe you’re using. Again.
If you don't do any of these things yet, that’s totally fine. To get started, we suggest doing just three things from the list and then adding the rest as you get more familiar with how it all works. And in no time, your smart home will be safe as, well… houses.
Whether it’s catching up with mates, getting your hits on TikTok or finally mastering that ‘double under’ jump rope trick, we all love a bit of internet. But it also has a dark side. Luckily, the same bit of kit that gets you online can also help keep you safe from it.
These days, it seems like you need a password for everything. Ordering food, paying bills, showing off your tan, you name it, you’ve got to enter the magical combination of letters, numbers and special characters.
It’s no secret that the internet is home to some shady characters, but staying safe online doesn’t mean that you have to turn your entire computer off. Instead, be mindful and take a look at these 8 top tips for staying safe online.
By the end of the year, 7.2 million UK homes are predicted to own at least one smart home device. But even if your fridge isn’t sending you regular milk-based status reports yet, your home’s probably way smarter than you think. And it needs broadband to match.