morConnect knows that smart homes are no longer a thing of the future. The smart home technology industry was worth $23.5 million in 2019, and the proliferation of smart home tech is expected to hit 47.7 percent of all American homes by 2023.
Smart home tech is more energy-efficient, sustainable and convenient than traditional devices. Although they may have a higher price point initially, the money homeowners save by investing in smart home technology over the years is worth the investment.
The Importance of Safety
Precaution is necessary with anything in life, especially innovation. Technology poses miraculous advancements and unfathomable dangers. Most consumers are only exposed to the best facets of every piece of technology, but no one can invest in a piece of equipment that essentially rewires their existence without taking personal security into account.
A smart appliance hack in 2017 resulted in millions of families’ privacy being broadcasted through spycams. Hackers were able to control everything in homeowners’ quarters from a dishwasher to a seemingly innocuous Roomba vacuum cleaner.
Network vulnerabilities put homeowners at risk; it’s difficult to know when your own smart appliance’s software has been hacked, and it’s crucial to understand how companies are bolstering security before making a purchase.
Low-Integrity Devices Pose The Highest Risk
Technology that seems the most mundane is often at the biggest risk of being hacked. Anything that connects to a remote control or some sort can be hacked, including a smart lightbulb or Alexa speaker. Most devices connect to Bluetooth or Wi-Fi in order to run; without a connection, their “smart” technology is rendered useless, and they become just another routine appliance.
In order to protect themselves and their homes, consumers have to thoroughly explore the security measures integrated into every device. Home security systems that allow remote locking and unlocking should be scrutinized with the utmost caution.
Preparing For The Future
When it comes to smart technology, the question is no longer a matter of if but when. Consumers should brace themselves for a hyper-connected future. Does it mean that traditional appliances will be completely disregarded in the coming years? Probably not. It would take decades for technology to be completely phased out, especially with such a large older population that prizes reliability and conformity over innovation.
But it never hurts to think ahead, and in the case of technology, that could be life-saving