Talking robots, smartwatches, cloud-connected stuffed animals and dolls, smart appliances.There are a LOT of "cool" toys on the market these days and chances are you or your kids will receive one as a gift. Before you hook that cool toy up to the internet, there are some things you should consider and safety steps to take.

 

If you do not get anything else out of this article, please understand this: if YOU can use it to get to the internet, bad actors can use it to get back to you.  Sounds paranoid... but the articles about IoT hacks are multiplying.   Simone Margaritelli of Quartz Media says, "but why should you care about some guy who figured out how to hack his coffee machine?" Answer is, "because it was too easy."  So before you hook that cool toy or device to the internet, please be sure you know the information the device can give away.

 

Unfortunately, when it comes to smart toys marketed at kids, the news is concerning.  Many security experts are recommending you do not let your kids have  smart toys, citing some pretty serious security flaws. The UK company Which? tested four popular toys and found security flaws that would allow strangers to use the devices to talk to, record and track kids.  Bitdefender  and Tech Crunch have published articles about the safety of Smartwaches' ability to spy on and track a child. And Germany has even banned the sale of kid's smartwatches.

 

So what do you do if your kid has been given a smart device or hopes to get one from Santa? My best advice would be not to connect it to the internet (including a cell phone). If that is not an option you want to pursue, then I would recommend you check the internet for any known security flaws for that toy (so you can make the most informed decision) and then follow the safety tips below to help secure your device.

 

Smart Devices (otherwise known as IoT devices) can also pose a risk.  Alexa, Siri, SmartTVs are among the devices that can record what goes on in your home.  Appliances that connect to the internet can also give away personal data and the location of your home.  Security experts including the FBI recommend taking security steps to lock down your smart devices as much as that device will allow.

Being an Informed Consumer is the best way to keep your family safe with IoT devices.