Skip to main content

Think twice before making your home too smart — it may make it vulnerable to attack

Making smart cities may be a rather dumb idea. As it turns out, in our nascent efforts to turn everything into a connected device, we’ve also opened ourselves up to rather terrifying hacks and attacks. As per a recent report from the The New York Times recently noted, “Putting a bunch of wirelessly connected devices in one area could prove irresistible to hackers. And it could allow them to spread malicious code through the air.”

One potential airborne weapon? Drones. In a paper published Thursday, researchers from the Weizmann Institute of Science near Tel Aviv, Israel and Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada exploited a flaw in technology frequently found in a number of smart home devices, including lights, switches, locks, thermostats, and more. In their work, the researchers looked into the Philips Hue smart light bulb and found that a drone could actually infect a single bulb with a worm that would then create a domino effect.

Recommended Videos

Alternatively, the researchers found, they could plant an infection in a building from a car located as much as 229 feet away.

The worst part of all this, experts noted, is that a bug could be built and delivered using nothing more than an “autonomous attack kit” based on “readily available equipment” that would cost just a few hundred dollars. That is to say, these aren’t hugely challenging attacks that would be difficult and expensive to execute — quite the opposite, in fact.

Of course, the researchers alerted Philips as to the vulnerability in their device, and a fix was issued in October. But all the same, with the ubiquity of other smart home devices, this patch may not be enough to solve the problem overall.

So be careful before you turn your home into a smart home — we may not yet be ready to be quite so connected.

Lulu Chang
Fascinated by the effects of technology on human interaction, Lulu believes that if her parents can use your new app…
Echo Show 21 vs. Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen): which is best for your smart home?
Amazon's new Echo Show 21 and updated Echo Show 15.

Amazon just released two new smart displays -- the completely new Echo Show 21 and the updated Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen). Both are premium options for your home, offering powerful speakers, Full HD displays, and heaps of useful apps so you can stream videos or check your schedule. But which is the better option? The gigantic Echo Show 21, or the updated Echo Show 15 (2nd Gen)? Here’s a closer look at both to help you decide.
Pricing and design

The Echo Show 21 is the biggest member of the Echo Show family, and it’s got the price tag to prove it. Clocking in at $400, it’s a hefty investment. Its design is pretty premium, however, and it can be either mounted on a wall or placed on a table with an adjustable stand (sold separately). The Echo Show 15 looks much the same, though it’s quite a bit smaller. But from a design standpoint, it’s essentially a shrunken version of the Echo Show 21. It too can be mounted on a wall or placed on a table with an optional adjustable stand. But at $300, it’s much easier on the wallet.

Read more
Make the most of your smart lights this holiday season with these expert tips
Nanoleaf Essentials Bulb on desk.

Daylight saving time has officially ended, bringing us darker (and colder) nights. The upcoming holidays certainly offer a bit of cheer during these chilly months. But a better way to combat winter fatigue is by optimizing your smart lights. Whether you have them installed inside or outside your home, now is the perfect time to tinker with their settings and create routines that keep you nice and cozy.

From changing the hue of your bulbs and installing motion sensors to creating schedules and setting up a vacation mode, here’s a look at powerful ways to optimize your smart lights.
Create a schedule or routine

Read more
This tiny smart puck can control your smart home without the need for mobile apps
The Linxura with four buttons on the screen.

My home is overrun with smart gadgets, and the main way I interact with them is through my smartphone. This is usually a robust way to control my gadgets, as my phone is never far from my side -- whether I need to toggle my smart lights, adjust my air purifier, or change the thermostat, my smartphone lets me tackle most of these tasks in a matter of seconds. However, having a physical button to perform these actions would certainly be preferred. Instead of diving into apps and wading through menus and automations, a physical controller would perform actions at the press of a button, much like a remote works for a TV.

That’s the idea behind the Linxura Smart Controller -- a disc-shaped object that lets you perform a long list of actions at the press of a button. After syncing it with your smart devices, you’ll no longer need your companion mobile apps. Just tap or double-tap its outer ring, and you can toggle hundreds of different products. I’ve been testing it out in my home, and while I think it’s a fun device, it falls short in a few areas. But if you’re craving a physical remote for your smart home, there’s good reason to take a closer look at the innovative gadget.
Simple, but tedious setup

Read more