How to secure smart home devices
Secure smart home devices by changing every default password, turning on two-step login for the account that controls them, keeping their firmware updated, and putting them on a guest network away from your computers and phones. Buy from makers that promise security updates for years, switch off features you will not use, and point indoor cameras away from places where guests expect privacy.
About 15 minutes to learnEveryday skill
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How to do it
- Make a list of every connected device in the home: cameras, doorbells, speakers, plugs, the TV and thermostat.
- Change any default password on each device and on the app account that controls them.
- Turn on two-step login for those app accounts.
- Turn on automatic firmware updates in each device's app.
- Move the devices to a guest network so they cannot reach your laptop or phone.
- Turn off microphones, remote viewing or voice purchasing you do not need.
- Point indoor cameras away from bathrooms and bedrooms, and tell guests where cameras are.
- Reset and remove devices from your account before you sell or throw them out.
Common mistakes
- Leaving a camera on the password printed in its box.
- Buying a cheap device from a maker that never ships updates.
- Keeping smart plugs and laptops on the same network.
Quick self-check
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Teach this to someone
A one-page sheet for showing a friend, a roommate or a kid: what to say, what to show, and one question to check it landed.
Teach: How to secure smart home devices
What to say
Secure smart home devices by changing every default password, turning on two-step login for the account that controls them, keeping their firmware updated, and putting them on a guest network away from your computers and phones. Buy from makers that promise security updates for years, switch off features you will not use, and point indoor cameras away from places where guests expect privacy.
What to show, in order
- Make a list of every connected device in the home: cameras, doorbells, speakers, plugs, the TV and thermostat.
- Change any default password on each device and on the app account that controls them.
- Turn on two-step login for those app accounts.
- Turn on automatic firmware updates in each device's app.
- Move the devices to a guest network so they cannot reach your laptop or phone.
- Turn off microphones, remote viewing or voice purchasing you do not need.
- Point indoor cameras away from bathrooms and bedrooms, and tell guests where cameras are.
- Reset and remove devices from your account before you sell or throw them out.
The check question
Ask: What is the biggest risk with a new camera or doorbell?
Related skills
- How to secure your home router
- How to keep your devices updated
- How to turn on two-step login
- Every skill in Tech and Digital Safety
Words on this page
Sources
- National cybersecurity agency guidance for home users, 2026. Checked September 28, 2026.
Last reviewed . First published .