How do you choose smart security that's good for your online privacy?
Choose smart security:
Many people think their own environment is secure, especially when they close the door. But the increase in the amount of smart devices at home can result in vulnerabilities if you're not careful. In this article, we'll discuss the choices you make in terms of your online privacy.
- What personal information should you share?
- Which country do you want your data to be stored in?
- How do you store your footage?
- How do you want to receive software updates?
What personal information should you share?
Almost every smart device has an accompanying app. You often fill in the required information without even thinking about it. It's important to look at this carefully and to not enter more than necessary. It's normal for the manufacturer to need your bank account if you get a subscription. Prefer not to do that? Choose a doorbell or IP camera without a subscription. You should think about what information manufacturers really need. If certain information isn't required, don't fill it in. This way, you limit the damage in case of a data breach.
Which country do you want your data to be stored in?
A lot of your data is stored in the cloud, which means it's stored on servers. These servers have to be placed somewhere, which means your data is stored in the country where the servers have been placed. The last few years, data breaches have been in the news regularly. This happened relatively often in China. That's why the brand you choose can affect how secure your data is. Eufy stores data in China, for example. And Arlo stores data in Ireland. Is a country known for not handling data very well? Consider an alternative product.
How do you store your footage?
With IP cameras and doorbells, you can store your data in different ways. You'll probably choose the easiest option, which is in the cloud. It's smart to consider local storage. Store footage on an SD card, on the device itself, or an on NVR, for example. If your WiFi network is well secured, you have complete control over your footage. With Arlo cameras with a base station, you have the option to store footage on an SD card, for example. Many Foscams and Ubiquity cameras allow you to connect a NAS or NVR. With Ring products, you don't have that option and have to use cloud storage. Eufy stores footage locally on a base station.
How long do you want to receive software updates?
It's important that you keep your apps and products up to date. Updates often improve weaknesses in the software. Manufacturers don't always provide software updates endlessly. So make sure to check how long the manufacturer provides software updates. This could be a problem with older products that already have a successor, for example. Many manufacturers do indicate this. At Coolblue, you can find this information under specifications at the bottom of the page. This is only the case if this information is available.
