We just celebrated Data Privacy Day at the end of January – Jan. 28, to be exact. Yet for smart home users, data privacy remains a concern, according to a whitepaper by Parks Associates.
We just celebrated Data Privacy Day at the end of January – Jan. 28, to be exact. Yet for
smart home users, data privacy remains a concern, according to a whitepaper by Parks Associates. This article examines user concerns towards data privacy and discusses certain best practices to overcome privacy issues.
Data Privacy Day is an international event that falls on Jan. 28 every year. The purpose of Data Privacy Day is to raise awareness and promote data protection best practices. The event is currently observed in the United States, Canada, Qatar, Nigeria, Israel and 47 European countries.
Indeed, Data Privacy Day and related events highlight the importance of data protection. Yet concerns over data privacy issues still remain. This is especially the case for users of smart home devices, which are becoming more and more common.
Connected devices on the rise
Indeed, the smart home concept is gaining more and more traction. According to the Parks Associates whitepaper, since 2015, the average number of Internet-connected products in a home has nearly doubled, rising to over 16 per household in 2022; these products range from Internet-enabled printers to smart thermostats,
smart speakers and video doorbells.
These devices rely heavily on user data to deliver the kind of customized and automated experience that smart home users go for – for example the smart speaker playing the user’s favorite song or the smart TV turning on their favorite program upon the user returning home. However, concerns about how this data is used is also on the rise. According to Parks Associates, some 74 percent of heads of US Internet households report being “concerned” about the security of their personal data, adding nearly half of consumers reported experiencing at least one of the following privacy or security issues in the past year: identity theft, data theft over home networks, data theft over public Wi-Fi, private information being made public, companies selling personal data to other companies, and companies tracking online activities, among others.
Barrier to smart device adoption
Indeed, privacy issues have ramifications in the smart home industry. According to Parks Associates, data privacy and security is one of the top barriers to smart product adoption, coming in third behind cost and lack of perceived value. The whitepaper adds that nearly one-third of those who don’t own or intend to buy smart home products state that the reason is because “I have data privacy and security concerns about having smart devices in my home.”
Best practices
Given the rampancy of privacy-related mishaps and breaches, smart home users should take various precautions to keep their data from being exploited. According to Parks Associates, there are certain best practices that consumers can employ to ensure data integrity. These include: review privacy policies and settings for the devices; only buy devices with robust security/privacy measures; register with the manufacturer to regularly update software, change the default name and password; disable remote access; segregate headless devices onto a separate Wi-Fi network or SSID from computers and cellphones; enable two-factor authentication; and enroll in identity theft and personal cyber protection to be alerted of suspicious activity and receive resolution services should identity fraud occur.
Parks Associates adds that solutions providers can benefit from educating consumers on the steps they can take to protect themselves, and from aligning their products and services with these practices.
Meanwhile, other security companies also shared their views and best practices in observance of Data Privacy Day. Genetec, for example,
recommends that organizations ensure their security systems data privacy by collecting and storing only what the user needs, limiting access to sensitive data, ensuring privacy without compromising evidence, being transparent and get user consent, choosing a reliable data storage provider, and establishing strong policies.
“Data security is an ongoing process, and organizations should regularly update protocols, stay informed about emerging threats, and continuously educate their teams on best practices,” Genetec said.