Smart home: security asset or hidden vulnerability?

4 minutes

It’s 7:15 in the morning. Your smart thermostat already knows you’re awake and adjusts the temperature. The coffee maker turns on. At 8:02, the smart lock records your departure and your cameras take over. Your home knows your routine inside out.

This scene is becoming a daily reality for more and more households. Technology is transforming our homes into responsive ecosystems. It learns our habits, anticipates our needs and seemingly provides greater security. But one question remains: is this constant connection truly protection, or a potential weakness?

In 2023, one in two adults owned at least one smart home device—voice assistant, appliance, surveillance system or energy management tool. One in three owned several.

Smart devices: where comfort meets technology

The smart home is no longer a futuristic dream. Locks, thermostats, cameras, detectors, appliances: all these devices communicate with one another to simplify life, save energy and keep your home secure while you’re away.

  • Smart thermostats learn your habits and adjust the set point (planned temperature) based on the time of day or weather, helping you cut electricity costs by consuming only what you need.
  • Smart locks lock and unlock remotely, send alerts if you forget and eliminate the need for physical keys.
  • Video cameras and doorbells show you who’s at your door, even when you’re away, and let you talk to visitors.
  • Detectors, whether for water leaks, smoke or motion, quickly alert you to anomalies and can even shut off the main water valve.
  • Smart appliances can be programmed or adjusted based on your habits to suggest optimal settings.

What they all promise? An environment that adapts to you, anticipates your needs and saves you time—all managed at your fingertips through your mobile phone.

When technology opens the door to risks

This convenience does come with a downside, however. The more connected your home becomes, the more it relies on the Internet, and the more it becomes exposed to new vulnerabilities.

1. Hacking and digital intrusion

Hijacked cameras, hacked locks, thermostats manipulated remotely: these scenarios are no longer science fiction. The Canadian Centre for Cyber Security warns that these devices can reveal a lot about your lifestyle.

Poorly secured, they create the perfect breach for cybercriminals who can spy, activate a microphone or take control of your locks.

2. Technical failure or improper configuration

A faulty or misconfigured device can fail at a critical moment: undetected water leak, silent alarm, false sense of security.

By trusting technology too much, we sometimes forget basic checks: testing detectors, closing windows, checking batteries.

3. Privacy breaches

Collected data, including images, sounds, habits and location, is often stored in the cloud. It may even be shared with third parties.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada reminds us that, without precautions, this data can be used for commercial or malicious purposes.

A connected, and alert, society

Homes are increasingly connected, but remain vigilant:

  • 64% of Quebecers using smart devices believe they pose a risk to their personal data.
  • 63% fear a privacy breach.

Smart home: what to tell your insurer

It’s in your best interest to inform your insurer about the smart devices you add to your home. Some may:

  • Change your property’s reconstruction value
  • Reduce your home insurance premium, such as intrusion (theft) and water leak detectors

Good to know

Your home insurance with Beneva may entitle you to a discount when you purchase a HydroSolution water leak detection system.

Five best practices for a connected and secure home

1. Protect your Wi-Fi network

  • Change your router’s default password
  • Enable WPA3 encryption (or WPA2 if your router is older)
  • Create a guest Wi-Fi network dedicated to your connected devices

2. Keep your devices and software up to date

Updates often fix security vulnerabilities. Enable automatic updates and regularly check the status of your devices. Remove devices you no longer use. Even unplugged, they can remain accessible remotely.

Before committing to a purchase, check how long the manufacturer provides technical support and security patches.

3. Secure your accounts

  • Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) on all your smart home apps.
  • Choose strong, complex passwords.
  • Avoid sharing the same password among family members.
  • Disable features you don’t need (e.g., microphone always on).

4. Keep an inventory of your equipment

Record the brand, model and installation date of your devices. Keep receipts and take a few photos. If you have to make a claim, this simplifies assessment and speeds up the home insurance claim process.

5. Perform annual maintenance

Technology evolves quickly! Test your detectors, change your passwords, review privacy settings and remove services you no longer use. The fewer unnecessary access points, the fewer risks you face.

Because progress never stops…

A well-protected smart home relies on simple actions: secure your network, keep your devices updated, inform your insurer and periodically review your settings.

Small habits that ultimately let you enjoy everything smart technologies have to offer.