Quick answer on secure smart home devices: most smart home break-ins happen through weak or reused passwords, not clever hacking. Use a unique password and two-factor sign-in for every smart home account, keep your router and devices updated, and buy from brands that release security updates. The ten steps below take about an hour and cover almost every real risk.
How we put this guide together: written by Imran Hasan Sany for TopSmartGear, based on guidance from device makers and consumer security agencies. This is a research-based guide, not a hands-on test. Sources include CISA’s Secure Our World guidance. Read how we review.
10 steps to a safer smart home
- Use a unique password for every account. A password manager makes this easy.
- Turn on two-factor sign-in for Amazon, Google, Apple, Ring, Wyze, eufy and every other smart home app.
- Secure your router: change the default admin password, use WPA3 or WPA2 encryption, and turn on automatic firmware updates.
- Keep devices updated. Turn on automatic updates in each app.
- Put smart devices on a separate network (a guest or IoT network) if your router supports it, so a weak gadget can’t reach your laptop.
- Review who has access. Remove old shared users, guest lock codes and devices you no longer use.
- Use camera privacy features: privacy zones, scheduled privacy mode, and end-to-end encryption where offered.
- Mute microphones when you want privacy, and review or delete voice history in the Alexa and Google Home apps.
- Buy from brands with a track record of security updates; very cheap no-name devices often stop getting updates.
- Factory reset devices before selling or giving them away, and remove them from your account.
Signs something is wrong
- Sign-in alerts you didn’t trigger
- Devices changing settings by themselves
- Unknown users or devices in your apps
If you see these, change the account password, sign out of all sessions, turn on two-factor sign-in and contact the brand’s support.
Related: are smart locks safe?, eufy vs Ring (including privacy history) and our smart home security plan for beginners.
Frequently asked questions
What is the most important step to secure smart home devices?
Use a strong, unique password for each account and turn on multifactor authentication, as CISA recommends.
How often should I update smart devices?
Turn on automatic updates where you can and install updates promptly, since they often fix security holes.
Should smart devices go on a separate network?
Putting them on a guest or separate network limits what an attacker can reach if one device is compromised.
Do smart speakers record everything?
No. They listen locally for the wake word. Use the microphone mute button when you want privacy, and review recordings in the app.
