4 Security Tips To Protect Your AI-Powered Home Devices 

How does it feel to stay in a home filled with smart gadgets that respond to your commands and provide security even when you are away? It sounds interesting, doesn’t it? 

Special thanks to Artificial intelligence that is transforming our homes with smarter and more interconnected AI devices. From an AI laptop to AI-powered cameras, each year we see new smart products make their way to make our lives easier and convenient. 

But when there is a sudden upsurge in technology, the security concerns also rise. To mitigate those risks, especially of hackers, you need to develop certain security measures that can protect your smart equipment. 

Well! You do not need to worry as here we are listing the 4 essential smart security tips to protect your AI-powered home devices.

1. Opt for a standalone WiFi Network For Your Devices 

Your WiFi is the main source that connects all your smart home devices. Therefore, it is important to create a separate network that prevents hackers from gaining access to your smart home devices. However, you can create a guest list that will allow trusted visitors to connect without accessing your main network.

• It is advisable to use WPA3 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 3) is the latest standard in Wi-Fi security, offering stronger data encryption and better protection against brute-force attacks compared to its predecessor, WPA2.

• Set up a guest network access that will allow visitors to connect through a separate network without compromising on network compatibility. 

• Disable remote management unless you know how to secure it because leaving it on can expose you to outside threats.

According to a report by Statista, the smart home market is expected to reach 100 million households in the US by the end of 2028. However, it is projected to reach 77.05 million households by the end of 2025. 

2. Updating Firmware and Software Regularly 

You will often get notifications from manufacturers releasing firmware updates for AI-powered devices to fix bugs, improve performance, and patch security vulnerabilities. Ignoring these updates can leave your devices open to attacks that exploit outdated software. These updates often include patches for known vulnerabilities that hackers could target to gain access to your devices. 

• You can update your smart devices using an AI laptop that automatically updates the software without any manual intervention. It also enables faster response times and more efficient energy usage. 

• Regular updates of smart home devices also ensure maximum compatibility with other systems, which can enhance overall security and interoperability. It also prevents system crashes and ensures optimal performance of your interconnected home devices. 

• Additionally, it is advised to set automatic updates, ensuring you receive patches as soon as they’re released. However, if you don’t receive updates make a habit of checking for firmware updates manually every week or month. 

3. Set-Up Multi-Factor Authentication On Accounts

Double authentication or multi-factor authentication adds an extra layer of protection to your accounts by requiring more than just a password to gain access. With MFA enabled, even if someone acquires your password, they will need a secondary form of authentication, like a code sent to your phone. However, it depends on the owner how they are going to set authentication levels. 

• This approach minimizes the chances of unauthorized access since hackers would need both your password and the secondary verification method.

• For devices that store critical information such as AI security cameras or voice assistant ensures that even if an attacker compromises your password, they cannot gain access without the second authentication factor, such as a time-based one-time password. 

• Similarly, depending on your device type you can use options like biometric verification (face recognition or fingerprint), time-sensitive passcodes, or an authenticator app.

4. Limit Permissions, Use Unique Strong Passwords 

You will often see routers are given a simple default password to allow for easy installation. However, when installed they are very easy for hackers to guess as default passwords are commonly known or easily found online. Therefore, it is important to use a unique mix of passwords and limit permissions to reduce the risk of privacy invasion.

• Enable 2FA (two-factor authentication). It is particularly important for devices with sensitive data or critical functionalities, like smart security systems.

• Creating a unique password for each device and account reduces the risk that a single compromised password could compromise your entire network.

• Only enable permissions that are essential for the device’s functionality. For instance, if a device doesn’t need to access your contacts or location, disable these permissions in the settings.

Concluding Statements 

As smart devices continue to become an integral part of our homes, it’s important to ensure their security at various levels. From setting up a standalone WiFi network to limiting permissions, these are some of the essential tips to protect the security of your smart homes. Moreover, with rapid advancements in AI, staying proactive about security measures is important to safeguard your smart home environment.