IoT, or the Internet of Things, is transforming lives at breakneck speed. It seamlessly integrates smart devices into every aspect of your life, including your workplace, home, and daily routines. From refrigerators to thermostats and smart speakers, these devices offer automation and convenience. Unfortunately, everything isn’t as peachy as you would want with these smart devices. Their increasing influence in your life introduces security challenges that you must be aware of.
As your digital footprint expands, you must take steps to secure your smart devices. This is where VPNs come to the rescue. VPNs have emerged as a valuable tool in the digital security landscape. Click here to learn more about what a VPN service offers, and keep scrolling to learn how you can secure your smart devices.
What are the Vulnerabilities in the IoT Ecosystem?
Smart devices are the epitome of convenience, and this allure typically overshadows the vulnerabilities and security risks they pose. Some of these stem from:
- Weak encryption and passwords – Outdated encryption protocols and easily guessable passwords make smart devices susceptible to data breaches and brute-force attacks.
- Unsecured communication protocols – If the communication between cloud platforms and devices is unencrypted, it allows cybercriminals to intercept and steal confidential data like personal information and login credentials.
- Unpatched software – If the software updates are not timely, they make the device vulnerable and allow hackers to exploit it.
- Limited user control – Some of the smart devices offer limited security options to users. Hence, they are vulnerable to manipulation.
The security risks and vulnerabilities may have significant consequences, including identity theft and data breaches. Owing to the interconnectedness of the IoT system, the risks are amplified because a single compromised device might become a gateway to an entire network of devices that are vulnerable.
How do VPNs Work?
VPNs provide a robust layer of security for your smart devices because they create an encrypted tunnel for the safe transmission of data. VPNs work in the following ways:
- Encrypts data – Data sent and received by your devices are fully encrypted before they leave your network. Thanks to this, the data becomes scrambled and unreadable by anyone who intercepts it. Even if you are connected to public Wi-Fi networks, cybercriminals won’t be able to steal your data.
- Disguised IP address – VPN hides the true IP address of your device, and this leads to anonymizing your activity. Since your actual location is hidden, it makes it challenging for cyber attackers to attack your device.
- Improved privacy – VPNs protect privacy and security by hiding IP addresses and encrypting data. It prevents unauthorized access to your confidential data.
- Bypass access restrictions – If you wish to access certain smart home features that are unavailable in your region, you can use a VPN to bypass such region-based restrictions.
Why use a VPN to Secure your IoT Devices?
Using VPNs across your IoT network might make your network much more robust than it is at present. When you connect your device to a VPN, all of the traffic running to and from your devices will be encrypted. Thanks to this encryption, the data becomes scrambled and unrecognizable. Even if someone manages to intercept your network traffic, they won’t be able to comprehend the data.
Have you heard of DDoS attacks? You will be shielded from such attacks because a VPN shields the IP address of the user. Cyber attackers find it extremely difficult to launch a targeted attack because they are unable to track the user’s location. If saving yourself from DDoS attacks is important, you can look for VPN service providers offering dedicated anti-DDoS servers.
VPN ensures your online activities are anonymous, and this is done by masking your IP address. Furthermore, it empowers users to circumvent MITM attacks by encrypting all of the traffic sent and received by their device.
Are you concerned about general snooping by your ISP or government agencies? VPNs take care of this problem as well. It prevents your ISP or government agencies from seeing the contents of your traffic and where it is going. This is because all of the traffic is encrypted, and your IP address is hidden.
How do you Integrate a VPN with your Smart Devices?
Have you ever used a VPN? If so, you would know that it can be implemented through everything, including mobile apps and desktop clients to IT infrastructures.
If you wish to cover every device on your office network, it would be impractical to install a VPN individually on each computer or device. Also, many smart devices like coffee machines, TVs, or cash registers might not be compatible with the VPN software. Hence, the installation of native applications is not an option. The same goes for beefing up the security of your home network, where you want every device to be safeguarded so your personal or other sensitive data doesn’t get hacked or stolen.
So, how can you integrate a VPN with your smart devices? The solution is to use a VPN router. You can configure your router with a VPN so that every connected device is automatically protected. You can follow the instructions given by your chosen VPN service provider to set up a VPN router quickly.
However, please note that devices that leave your home or office, such as smartphones and laptops, will still need to have a native VPN application installed.
The Bottom Line
As you know, the IoT landscape is ever-evolving. Therefore, the security threats it presents are also evolving. It is essential to stay informed about all the emerging vulnerabilities so you can adopt the necessary security measures.
Since smart devices have become a necessary part of modern life, you have to think of ways to secure them so your personal and other confidential data remains safe. Although VPNs are a robust tool offering data encryption and privacy protection, you must ensure that you regularly update your devices and use unique passwords. Also, do not share your passwords with everyone, or you will be risking your privacy.
