Smart home devices can expose floor plans and household routines

Some internet-connected household appliances can reveal sensitive information, including a home’s layout and residents’ habits, cybersecurity experts told Yle. They advise against connecting appliances to the internet if they work without it.

Traficom’s Hybrid Security Centre considers robot vacuum cleaners a potential security risk. They may collect data about a home’s floor plan to navigate while cleaning. In some cases, the vacuum communicates with a cloud service, allowing information to spread to outsiders, cybersecurity expert Antti Nikkinen said.

Security cameras from unfamiliar brands may have inadequate protections, said Vesa Turunen, development manager for security services at Telia. Insecure cameras could let burglars check whether a home is empty, or allow footage to be posted online.

Smart appliances can also collect data about how people live. A connected washing machine may reveal when it is used, as well as information about electricity prices if it is linked to a system that tracks spot prices. A smart television can record which channels and programmes people watch and how long they view advertisements, Nikkinen said. Such data may be used for marketing.

Experts recommend replacing devices’ default passwords with strong, unique passwords, installing the latest operating system updates on phones and computers, and replacing devices that no longer receive updates. An old router may also have inadequate security.

The warning comes as grocery stores in several countries reported attacks on refrigeration equipment on Monday. Many K stores in Finland also experienced disruptions, and their cause is being investigated.