Expert warns: small smart device could become gateway to hackers accessing your home network

Elisa cybersecurity expert Ivar Tennokese says smart devices pose a serious security risk, but not because someone wants to spoil your milk. The main threat is that poorly protected home devices can become a jumping-off point for attacks on your entire home network and the data stored there.

Smart home devices, from fridges to security cameras and thermostats, have become a standard part of modern homes. According to Elisa cybersecurity product manager Ivar Tennokese, these devices often represent an underestimated security vulnerability that users are not sufficiently aware of.

Tennokese explains that the direct concern is not that someone will hack into your home fridge with the goal of spoiling the milk. The real threat is much more practical: a poorly protected smart device becomes a convenient staging post for attackers, giving them access to your entire home network and the personal data, photos and banking information stored there.

What can the average user do?

Experts recommend starting with simple steps: change the default passwords on devices, keep smart device software up to date, and consider setting up a separate Wi-Fi network for home devices to keep them separate from your computers and phones. Many home users never do this, leaving their devices easy to find and attack.

As the smart home expands, so does the attack surface: the more devices connected to your home network, the more potential entry points for break-ins. Security experts stress that particularly cheaper and lesser-known brands' devices are often those whose software updates end quickly or are unavailable altogether.