Many Australians take precautions to help increase the physical security of their home, but experts are urging the public to be aware of hidden home security risks through cybercrime.
One potential risk could be caused by the increased use of smart home technology products, such as Bluetooth controlled door locks that can be opened remotely and even smart fridges, all connected to wifi.
According to experts, technology has become a new gateway for criminals to hack a household’s internet, gaining control of smart products and attaining personal information.
Greg Austin, Professor at The University of New South Wales’ Australian Centre for Cyber Security said it’s a big challenge today.
"Cyber security in the home and in personal use of mobile technology is a big challenge around the world. Australia has begun to address this where it counts most: child safety.
“One of the most shocking examples, which I heard happened in the US was the ability for someone to hack into a baby cam,” Mr Austin said.
In relation to this event, Delia Rickard, Deputy Chair of The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) said to research smart home products.
“We haven’t seen much in this space but the American Federal Trade Commission has taken a company to court whose baby cam monitors could be accessed by others. It’s a good idea to drill down and question the manufacturer about the security protections,” she said.
Online shopping scams can pose a risk too. These websites can be identified as scams if they request unusual payment methods.
“We see quite a lot of online shopping scams these days. You should look at their HTTPS and the padlock to see if it’s a secure website,” Ms Rickard said.
The deputy chair encouraged people to sign up to ACCC’s Scam Watch, a service that can update people on the latest scams.
Detective inspector Gordon Arbinja, manager of the Cybercrime unit at New South Wales Police shares more insight.
“Online shopping is something that is here to stay and I accept that, but you should try to minimise your risk by having a secured wifi network with a unique password,” Detective Arbinja said.
He also warned the public about the risk taken when posting photos online.
“Selfies can reveal personal belongings at home. People can track where you live based on what you voluntarily put on social media. You should turn location services off,” Detective Arbinja said.
Cybercrime can be reported online at Australian Cybercrime Online Reporting Network (ACORN) or at local police stations.
