A few weeks ago, my mom (who works in payroll at an electrical company) called me with a weird update:
“Our network has been getting tons of ARP Cache Poisoning attacks… IT says it’s the new Smart TV.”
Not exactly what you expect from a brand new 55" screen.
As homes and offices fill up with smart devices—TVs, fridges, doorbells, lightbulbs—it’s easy to forget these are computers, often with poor security baked in.
If you’re setting up smart devices at home or work, here are a few quick tips to keep your network safer:
-
Change default usernames/passwords
“admin / admin” still works on way too many devices. -
Update firmware regularly
Even TVs get security patches—check the settings once in a while. -
Use your router’s Guest Wi-Fi for smart devices
This keeps them separate from your personal or work devices. (Most routers have a simple toggle for this in the app or admin panel.) -
Turn off what you don’t need
Not using voice control, Bluetooth, or remote access? Disable it. -
Know what’s online
Log into your router occasionally to check for unknown devices. Unplug anything suspicious.
For the techier crowd:
If your router supports VLANs or device isolation, segmenting IoT devices at the network level is even better. But for most people, a Guest Wi-Fi is a great first step.
Do you have any “Smart” horror stories or IoT security experience? Drop your story—or your go-to IoT security tip—below. Would love to hear it.