Imagine this scenario. You buy a new house with several pre-installed smart devices. In the middle of his first night under a new roof, the alarm from his home security system wakes him up. On the second day, the lights in his room mysteriously turn on at 4 AM. Finally, on the third day, you wake up uncomfortably hot with your heating system. Why the Ecobee3 Smart Thermostat should be your first HomeKit device Why the Ecobee3 Smart Thermostat should be your first HomeKit device If you're an Apple device user looking to start building a HomeKit-enabled system, the Ecobee3 Smart Thermostat is a great place to start. Read More set to 85 degrees.
Fortunately, no one has robbed your home, nor are you dealing with paranormal activity. Instead, it could be that previous owners are controlling their smart devices from afar, either accidentally or deliberately.
Sound too far to be true? Think again. What is a smart home? What is a smart home? We recently launched a Smart Home category on MakeUseOf, but what is a smart home? Read More Unfortunately, in many cases, doing a "factory reset" might not be enough.
In this article, you'll learn about the risks of buying second-hand smart home devices like lights, climate controls, and locks, and what you can do to better protect your privacy.
It seems like every company, regardless of industry, is trying to create the next great smart home device. Unfortunately, while companies are pushing for new products to hit stores The hottest new Apple HomeKit products for 2017 The hottest new Apple HomeKit products for 2017 Since Apple first announced HomeKit, the number of compatible products continues to grow! From security cameras to lighting products, here are the coolest new gadgets coming in 2017. Read More Q>
It's fair to say that technology products generally have an incredibly short life cycle, as cell phone turnover rates show. However, there are many exceptions, especially when it comes to smart devices.
Many of the most popular smart light bulbs on the market, for example, can last for decades, depending on how often you use them. To a lesser extent, the same can be said for other products like smart thermostats, which have been designed to work with a wide range of electrical systems, both new and old.
Due to the long lifespan of smart home products, it's not uncommon for used smart devices to find new homes as part of a home sale or because the previous owner upgraded their smart home system.
Consider how much information is routed through your smart devices and the permissions you've given them. Unless you can guarantee that past or future owners will not have access to such information, the option to buy or sell a used smart device is a risk at best.
Many smart home products won't be around long enough to get a second owner. But for products that do, there are steps you can take to better protect yourself from annoying interference or serious security risks. These steps are useful for both sellers and buyers.
When it comes to multiple smart devices, it's always best to take inventory of used items. Where possible, group products by manufacturer and product type. If you can't find this information, either because they aren't checked correctly or there isn't a checkbox, avoid the items and don't use them.
The Online Trust Alliance Smart Home Checklist is a great place to start when you need to take inventory of items. Provides a general list of smart items that can be in a home. It also guides real estate agents, sellers, and buyers through the smart device transfer process.
Better yet, there could soon be an app that takes the guesswork out of smart product identification. The unnamed app, currently under development by the National Association of Realtors' Realtors Technology Center (NARC), will help users better identify items that need to be reset before a repurchase.
All smart home devices come with a factory reset option. Prevent thieves from recovering your data after a factory reset Prevent thieves from recovering your data after a factory reset Android factory reset cannot completely erase all your data, so before you sell your device, make sure to completely erase all your data with this method. Read more . Depending on the item, you can perform this step on the device itself or through a dedicated app or website. For the latest instructions on doing a hard reset, visit the company's website. This will ensure that you get up-to-date information, rather than relying on the potentially outdated instruction manuals that came with the item.
In most cases, finding these instructions online is as simple as typing "factory reset" into the search box on the company's support page. For example, a quick search on the Google Nest website will bring up the appropriate How to Reset or Reset Nest Learning Thermostat page.
When researching this article, I was surprised to learn that factory resets of smart home products are not always foolproof .
Some products, like the Wink Hub 2, offer privacy protection when someone new is using a smart product. As Patrick Mahoney, Wink's director of communications told Digital Trends:
However, other products do not. The same Digital Trends article explained that in some cases, a factory reset doesn't actually unbind a product from its original owner. In those cases, you should usually call the company for further instructions.
As Charles Henderson, global head of IBM's X-Force Red, explained about smart devices at the RSA 2017 computer security conference:
If you are still concerned about security and privacy, home security systems may not be as secure as you think home security systems may not be as secure as you think. Here we take a look at some of the most notable smart home security hacks - exploring What Happened and Why It Happened. Read More you should contact the manufacturer and see how they can help you. Most will probably recommend doing a factory reset and hope to end the conversation there. However, before you do, ask them about the company's policy to unbind devices from previous owners.
For example, you could ask:
There are other things to consider when it comes to used smart devices. For example, you need to find out if the warranties are still in effect with the new owners. When they don't, do some research so you know the potential cost to repair or replace the item should something happen.
You'll also need to learn more about device compatibility. Future Screening of Your Smart Home for Apple HomeKit Compatibility Future Review of Your Smart Home for Apple HomeKit Compatibility Read more. For example, does the item only work on Wi-Fi or can you use it with Bluetooth? Does it require a separate hub or will the device work independently?
The smart home industry remains in its infancy. As with most new technologies, smart device manufacturers are more concerned with bringing new products to market than with what happens when these products are eventually resold.
Henderson hopes that smart home device makers will eventually turn to the mobile phone industry to determine an industry standard for what a device reset means. "Right now we only hope for the best and wish consumers luck when it comes to deleting data or removing access," he explains.
Until that standard is developed, you must practice due diligence. When in doubt, you might be better off not using 4 Smart Reasons to Avoid the Smart Home Trend 4 Smart Reasons to Avoid the Smart Home Trend Many smart home products seem great at first glance, but there are drawbacks and drawbacks What she should have. Be on the lookout for issues that could sidetrack the entire concept. Read More
What kind of concerns do you have about used smart home products? Tell us your opinion in the comments below..
