Convenience versus safety — sometimes it’s impossible to have both when it comes to tech devices.
There are more smart devices than we could have imagined 10 years ago, and every day brings something new. We have smart door locks, thermostats, refrigerators, indoor and outdoor security cameras, televisions, cellphones, light bulbs, speakers and wall plugs.
Whether it’s data breaches, surveillance, intrusions, hijack of your device or outright cyber attacks and theft of your information, smart devices can make you vulnerable if they are hacked.
Take smart thermostats, for example. Those smart gadgets track all kinds of things about you. Scariest of all is that they keep track of when you leave home and when you come back, information that a thief would like to have.
If you want a smart device, be sureyou understand the downside and the risks. Keep the software updated, use strong passwords and understand the settings, especially on any device with a camera or microphone. Your smart television speakers could work in the reverse and capture the sounds in the room, for example.
Before you buy a smart device, or to learn more about devices you might already have, go online to search for “dangers of smart devices.”
If you want news about all things tech, you can do no better than Kim Komando. Sign up, and several times a week you’ll get an email newsletter packed with tech news. A lot of what she has to say concerns safety, how to avoid scams and what tech items to buy or avoid. I’ve subscribed for many years and know that she honors privacy preference settings and doesn’t sell names or email addresses. If you want to give it a try, go online to www.komando.com to sign up. You can also catch her on the radio or her podcast.
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