Paul Dreher Director of Personal Insurance View Bio

According to InsiderIntelligence, nearly half of U.S. households have at least one smart device in their home. Allowing information to be more easily accessible, many households look to these smart devices to help them get through the day. Combining this use of smart devices with the increase of people working from home following the Covid-19 pandemic, the concern of protecting personal information is at an all-time high.

The want and need to utilize smart devices and connect to the Internet of Things (aka IoT – software and other technologies that exchange data with other systems over the Internet or other communications networks), while making life easier, allows for privacy and vulnerability issues. If proper protection measures are not in place, cybercriminals can take advantage of this opportunity and access private information. In fact, national news outlets reported a case in which a cybercriminal took over a Wi-Fi enabled baby monitor, accessed a view inside the home, and broadcasted threats through the monitor that was linked to a Nest camera. Situations like these pose a great risk to both individuals and companies as the act of working from home is now an option for many.

To guard both personal and private company information, it is of upmost importance to take proper steps to improve security.

It is recommended to follow these FOUR steps to protect information:

  1. Secure Your Computer – Utilize antivirus systems, secure internet connections, and make sure your computer has the latest version of software downloaded.
  2. Change Your Passwords – Avoid using the same password across many devices and be sure to change the default password on each device.
  3. Be Careful on Social Media – Be sure to update privacy settings and avoid sharing specific personal details to the public.
  4. Avoid Scams – Scams can present themselves in a variety of ways, i.e. through text messages, phone calls, and/or emails. Be skeptical of any messages asking for personal information.

In addition to the four recommend steps, it is recommended that individuals look into adding cyber insurance to their homeowners insurance policy. With the increased potential of information falling into the wrong hands, having a personal line of cyber insurance can greatly assist in protecting information.

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