Infographic: How to secure your IoT connected family

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When you have kids, anything you can do to make your life a little more convenient can be a lifesaver. That’s why the internet of things is so tempting — wouldn’t you love to be able to check an app to see whether there’s milk in your refrigerator on your way home from work? Or click a button on your phone to start preheating your oven while you are on your way home from work? Even simple things like keeping the kids entertained with their electronic devices while you make dinner can make life a little easier. Unfortunately, all this ease of use translates to ease of hacking for hackers, since most people opt for convenience over security.

When you have a family, there are multiple chances for IoT devices to enter the equation. Baby monitors that are connected to the internet can stream videos to hackers outside your home, giving them the opportunity to eavesdrop. Even pets can have pet cameras and treat dispensers that can be taken advantage of. Children are starting to have more connected toys than ever, including stuffed animals, dolls, and robots, and that’s on top of connected devices like tablets and gaming devices. More teens than ever before have smart phones – so many that 95% of teens have them compared to 77% of U.S. adults. Adults are not immune, either – those wearable fitness trackers can spell big trouble, as can things like virtual wallets and smart cars.

By 2020, the number of IoT devices installed in a typical home will double to 20.4 billion. There are simple steps you can take to protect your family. They include:

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  • Give your router an unusual name
  • Update your router software regularly
  • Reset your router on a regular basis
  • Change default passwords immediately
  • Turn off UPnP
  • Use two-factor authentication whenever possible
  • Turn off unnecessary convenience features
  • Educate your family about social engineering attacks

Learn more about protecting your connected family from this infographic from Digital Guardian!

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What do you think about security as it relates to smart devices and IoT? Let us know in the comments below or on GooglePlus, Twitter, or Facebook.

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