With Eid ul Fitr just around the corner, the folks at Kaspersky shared a list of smart ways to keep your smart home safe this holiday season and throughout the year.

“Digital security cameras, smart locks and IoT devices have become common features in modern homes, providing enhanced convenience, connectivity and greater control over home security. While many relied on these innovations to safeguard their homes, the technological advancements come with an increased risk of cyber threats. Hackers can tap into your network, hijack camera, disable alarms or even control smart doors when you are away,” said Kaspersky Southeast Asia General Manager Tyeo Siang Tiong.

Tip #1: Secure your home network
Use a strong and unique password that is not easy to guess and enable WPA2 or WPA 3 encryption.

Tip #2: Segment your network
Connecting all your devices to the same mesh network is convenient, but it is safer to use separate networks for your personal, smart home, and work devices.

Tip #3: Change the default password on all devices
With new technology comes more responsibility and the need to change the password. Got a lot of devices? Use a password manager to generate and store those passwords.

Tip #4: Hide your Wi-Fi networks
Turning the visibility of your Wi-Fi network name (SSID) off will make adding new devices to it a little inconvenient, but it will make it less of a target.

Tip #5: Keep your apps and devices updated
This means occasionally checking if all your smart devices (even the light bulbs) have the latest firmware and if you are running the latest apps. Unlike appliances, smart devices require upkeep.

Tip #6: Turn off devices you don’t need
It saves electricity and removes potential entry points on your network. It also makes you more conscious of your devices and their usefulness.

Tip #7: Don’t overshare
Everything you put online is public. Everything on your social media can and will be seen by colleagues, law enforcement, the media, and those who see you as a potential target. So, be mindful of what you share.

Tip #8: Use Kaspersky!
It says to give your smart home a cybersecurity shield. But we all know that Kaspersky is a global cybersecurity and digital privacy company. They would love it if you give Kaspersky Premium’s Smart Home monitor with Wi-Fi Security Check a try. There’s a Ramadan promotion that is valid until March 31. Just go to http://kaspersky.my/premium