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Smart-home devices can reveal household routines, and weak settings or outdated software can create openings for unauthorized access. But routine data collection is not the same as theft: a device may collect information as part of its normal operation without being compromised. The practical response is to secure your router, devices, and accounts, then review what each device collects and which features it actually needs.
Can smart home devices be hacked?
Yes. Any internet-connected device can face security risks, but that does not mean every smart-home device has been compromised or that someone is watching it. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says the risks and appropriate safeguards depend on a device’s purpose, the information it collects, how that information is shared, and the likely risks. Its guidance, Careful Connections: Keeping the Internet of Things Secure, puts it plainly: “There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach to securing IoT devices.”
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It helps to distinguish two issues:
- Privacy and collection: A device or its apps may gather data during normal use. Check settings and the manufacturer’s privacy information to understand what is collected and how it is used.
- Security and unauthorized access: A weak password, unpatched software, or exposed feature may let someone access an account, device, or data without permission. Collection alone is not evidence that a theft or intrusion occurred.
In a 2025 survey of 401 U.S. smart-home users, NIST found that participants viewed voice assistants as the most problematic device category, while they were most confident about security devices and thermostats. Those results describe perceptions, not measured compromise or theft rates. NIST’s earlier 2020 report drew on interviews with 40 smart-home users and described concerns, mitigations, and ways people accepted some risks for perceived benefits; it is qualitative context, not a population estimate. See NIST’s 2025 survey and 2020 report.
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What can smart-home devices reveal?
The information depends on the device and its settings. The FTC’s consumer guidance describes several examples: smart-TV apps may collect viewing behavior even when the viewer is not actively using them; voice assistants listen for commands and may send recordings to manufacturers; and IP cameras can provide remote live video and audio feeds. The FTC also warns that many IP cameras are vulnerable to digital snooping. These are category-level cautions, not proof that every device or provider collects or handles data in the same way.
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For a household, the concern is that information from connected devices can offer clues about activity and routines. A camera’s live feed is different from a TV app’s viewing data, so the useful privacy review is device-specific rather than based on a blanket assumption that every device is recording everything.
Do smart TVs listen to you?
The FTC warns that smart-TV apps can collect viewing behavior, including when you are not actively watching. That is not the same claim as saying every TV continuously records conversations. For the privacy issue the FTC identifies, review the TV’s tracking settings and remove apps you do not use. The FTC’s consumer guide to securing internet-connected devices recommends those checks.
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Are home security cameras vulnerable to snooping?
They can be. IP cameras offer remote video and audio access, and the FTC cautions that many are vulnerable to digital snooping. A camera’s remote-access function is useful when you need to check a feed away from home, but it also makes the account and device settings important security controls.
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- Keep camera firmware and its companion app updated.
- Review access logs for unfamiliar IP addresses or access at unusual times.
- Disable remote management or other features you do not need.
An unfamiliar log entry merits investigation, but by itself does not establish that data was stolen. Check the device’s instructions for how it records access and what the entries mean.
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How do I secure my smart home?
Start with the router, then secure individual devices and accounts. The FTC calls the router “the key to privacy in the Internet-of-Things (IoT) world” in its home-device security advice. A secure network does not remove every device-specific privacy or security risk, but it is an important entry point to address.
1. Secure the router
- Change the default administrator credentials and the network name.
- Enable the strongest encryption setting the router supports.
- Check for and install router updates.
- Consider a guest network for devices that do not need access to your main network. A guest network is one useful layer, not a guarantee that devices are isolated or secure.
If you are choosing equipment, a home Wi-Fi router with a guest-network feature may be useful, but the FTC guidance does not compare models or name a best router. Configuration and updates matter whichever router you use.
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2. Secure device accounts and software
- Change default passwords on devices and use a different, strong password for each account.
- Turn on two-factor authentication wherever it is offered.
- Install updates for device firmware and companion apps.
- Turn off unused capabilities, such as remote management, and disconnect devices you no longer use.
3. Review settings for the device you own
- Smart TVs: Review tracking settings and remove unused apps.
- IP cameras: Change default credentials and check access logs for unfamiliar addresses or unusual times.
- Other devices: Review the available privacy, sharing, and remote-access controls against what you actually need.
4. Revisit the setup over time
Security is ongoing: updates arrive, households add devices, and features may no longer be needed. NIST’s 2025 white paper on telehealth smart-home integration describes layered controls such as access control, authentication, monitoring, data security, governance, and network segmentation. That document addresses a specialized health-system integration context, not every consumer smart home, but it illustrates why no single setting or purchase can stand in for a broader security approach. Read NIST’s telehealth smart-home guidance.
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