From Smart Homes to Smart Spying: Hidden Risks Inside Connected Devices

Smart​‍​‌‍​‍‌ homes are expected to make life more convenient, comfortable, and controllable from anywhere. These days, homes are getting really smart thanks to smart home assistants, smart TVs, smart doorbells and baby monitors, and a bunch more.

But we can’t ignore a rather scary question—are smart homes becoming more vulnerable for spying?

In reality, many connected devices might be offering a backdoor to the home that you simply don’t realise until your privacy is compromised and you have no way of knowing.

Smart Homes Boom and Surveillance Gap

Smart devices use microphones, cameras, sensors, and internet that is always on. While the first point leads to automation of the home, the second point results in opening windows for hackers.

Some common home appliances that could be used for spying are:

• Smart TVs having microphone features

• Smart speakers/voice assistants

• Wireless cameras and doorbells

• Baby monitors

• Smart plugs, hubs and other similar

• Internet routers and mesh networks

If these devices are not properly secured or purposefully altered, they can be used as an instrument for spying, video surveillance or data hoarding.

Spying Potential of Smart Devices

1. Firmware Hacks and Malware

Hackers use malware and other techniques to take advantage of security weaknesses which exist because devices use outdated firmware and have insufficient protection measures. The hackers then use these methods to convert devices into surveillance tools which include both audio recording and video monitoring capabilities.

2. Forgotten Defaults & Unsafe Data Transfer

Quite a few pieces of tech come with default settings and passwords that users never bother to change, so the instructions of gaining access to the device are shockingly simple.

3. Fake or Faulty and Stolen Devices

It is possible that such things as fake or tampered-with smart gadgets may be deliberately installed especially at the time of a renovation, renting or living with someone else.

4. Secret Recording Potential

Even when we think we are not using it, the gadget is equipped with a microphone that secretly records your activities and sends the data off continuously in the ​‍​‌‍​‍‌background.

Why​‍​‌‍​‍‌ Smart Homes Are Easy Targets

Smart homes typically store a lot of sensitive data:

• Private conversations

• Financial-related talks

• Business discussions

• Security measures

• Kids’ schedules

People like stalkers, corporate spies, and disgruntled partners, or even hackers, can use this data as a very valuable source of information.

Unlike traditional bugs, smart spying is really quite stealthy—these devices simply appear normal, work as usual, and do not create suspicion to the person in the room.

Spot the Signs Your Smart Home Has Been Hacked

Even though smart spying is difficult to uncover, some signs can point a suspicion:

• Random activation of devices

• Unexpected fluctuations in internet traffic or data usage

• Some users may encounter a noise that users consider feedback, popping, or interference from the microphone

• Cameras moving without your commands

• Apps are not behaving normally or predictably

Nevertheless, quite a few surveillance scams won’t leave any trace whatsoever.

Why the Home Bug Sweep Is a Most Necessary Part of Security

If you employ a professional Home Bug Sweep, it will be a complete check of your smart environment beyond just a simple scan for conventional listening equipment. A Home Bug Sweep also encompasses:

• Locating micro-sized audio and video recording devices

• Pointing out compromising smart devices

• Tracing and analyzing signals coming from RF, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

• Vulnerability assessment of your network

• Examining smart hubs, routers and power sources

As connected devices are becoming more and more integrated into every aspect of our lives, the Home Bug Sweep has changed from a luxury to a necessity in home security layers.

Who May Benefit from a Home Bug Sweep?

People who:

• Have a smart home or a luxurious property

• Have recently moved, renovated, or hired a contractor

• Feel that they are being watched without permission

• Manage highly confidential personal or business information

• Have had privacy leaks or have been preyed upon

Privacy isn’t automatic in smart homes—it’s something which needs to be looked into and established.

Freedom from Smart Spying in a Smart Home

It’s not the smart technology that poses a threat, but rather the uncontrolled aspects of it and blindly trusting devices that are made only for the sake of convenience and not security.

On top of living smartly and taking a proactive stand against the spying measures by, for example, having a professional Home TSCM Sweep regularly done, homeowners can still have the best of both worlds, innovation and privacy.

In fact, in our hyper-connected world, the most brilliant strategy is first and foremost being aware of who or what is ​‍​‌‍​‍‌eavesdropping.