Smart home devices could give hackers access, experts warn
Tuesday 3rd November 2026 on 08:30 in
Denmark
Internet-connected devices in Danish homes could give hackers control of appliances, smart locks or access to personal data, experts told DR after attacks targeted supermarket refrigerators in seven European countries.
Supermarkets in Sweden, Finland, Estonia, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Luxembourg were hit by attacks that raised the temperature in refrigerated and frozen-food displays to as high as 50 degrees, spoiling the food inside.
Rasmus Dahlberg, a lecturer in societal security at Roskilde University, said any product connected to the internet could pose a security risk. “Every time we can control something remotely through an app or online, others potentially can too,” he said.
Dahlberg said smart-home technology can be useful, but consumers should consider whether they are willing to accept the risks of connecting appliances, televisions or door locks to the internet. In some cases, an intruder could take control of devices or lock someone out of their home, he said.
Sofie Freja Christensen, a cybersecurity expert at the company Conscia, warned that a vulnerable device could provide a way into others on the same network. A hacker might first access a smart light, for example, then move on to phones or computers, she said.
Potential attackers could include cybercriminals seeking ransom or state-backed actors seeking to spread concern, Dahlberg said. While an individual household may not be an especially attractive target, shared products and technology could leave many homes vulnerable to disruption.
Christensen said smart scales connected to apps could upload health data over a home wireless network. Such information could be sold or used for blackmail, she said.
Dahlberg said Denmark’s high level of digitalisation makes it vulnerable, but people should not be afraid. Instead, he urged consumers to consider whether devices need to be online. Christensen advised keeping devices updated, using strong passwords and enabling two-step verification where possible.