IT Security on Smart Home? Sure — But Secure!

Robot Vacuums in the Smart Home - The Underestimated Data Hog

Thu, 15 May 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Introduction

Imagine your robot vacuum knows more about you than your closest friends — even though it’s only supposed to clean the floor. It drives through your home, scans your rooms, listens to your conversations, and you think it’s really just vacuuming? Sounds like a horror movie, but that’s exactly reality.

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The Ecovacs Incident of 2024

In October 2024, hacked Ecovacs robot vacuums in the US turned into full-blown stalkers ¹. They chased pets and hurled racist insults at their owners, terrorizing entire households ². But how did it get to this point? The attackers exploited a glaring security vulnerability in the robots’ software. The security PIN that was supposed to prevent unauthorized access was only verified in the app, not on the device itself — a fatal flaw that hackers knew how to exploit ³.

What makes this case particularly alarming: common security measures like strong passwords or two-factor authentication would not have helped here. The manufacturer had made such a fundamental programming error that even best-practice security measures were rendered useless.

The Underestimated Problem of Profiling

But even if your robot vacuum isn’t hacked, there is another massive problem: profiling. Many people might think, what could a robot vacuum really know about me? The answer is: frighteningly much.

To understand how powerful data analysis can be, here is a real-world example from the US: In 2012, a teenager suddenly started receiving ads for baby products from the retail chain Target. Her outraged father complained to Target about the alleged harassment of his daughter — only to find out a few days later that his daughter was actually pregnant. The algorithm had detected subtle changes in purchasing behavior and drawn the right conclusions before the family even knew ⁴.

What Does This Mean for Robot Vacuums?

Your robot vacuum links movement patterns, camera images, and sounds. It knows:

When you sleep
When you come home
Whether your routines change
Which rooms are used and how often
What conversations take place in your home

Why This Matters

“Why would anyone spy on me? I’m not important at all.” This thought is understandable, but it misses the core of the problem. It’s not about targeted surveillance of individuals — it’s about mass data collection:

Companies don’t specifically target your data
They simply collect everything, because storage is cheap
What seems harmless today can become highly sensitive tomorrow through AI analysis
The value lies not in any single household, but in the sheer volume of data

This data can feed algorithms that make decisions about:

Health insurance eligibility
Credit scoring
Personalized advertising

Concrete Recommendations

What can you actually do to protect yourself?

Basic security measures:
- Use strong passwords
- Install updates regularly
- Put devices on a guest network
Consider before buying:
- Think twice before getting devices with cameras or microphones
- Be especially critical of cloud-based data processing
Alternative solutions:
- The Valetudo project offers open-source firmware for some robot vacuum models
- This lets you keep control over your own data

Conclusion

Even large, seemingly trustworthy brands are not immune to data breaches — as the Volkswagen incident of 2024 illustrates, where data from over 400,000 electric vehicles ended up unprotected on the internet ⁵.

Making a genuinely reliable purchase recommendation for a “secure” robot vacuum is nearly impossible. The most pragmatic approach seems to be avoiding models with cameras and microphones and accepting the reduced feature set. An alternative for tech-savvy users is the Valetudo project ⁶, which provides an open-source alternative to the manufacturer’s firmware. Because in the end, protecting your privacy matters more than the supposed convenience of extra features.

Cloud Integrations vs. Local Integrations

Fri, 03 Jan 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Bose simply pulled the plug. Overnight, SoundTouch speakers that cost well over €1,000 turned into expensive paperweights – because the manufacturer shut down its cloud service. Vorwerk did the same thing with Neato robot vacuums. The list keeps growing.

This is the fundamental problem with cloud integrations in a smart home: you buy a device, but you don’t really own the functionality behind it. That belongs to the manufacturer – and they can take it back at any time. Here I’ll look at what that means in practice, and when cloud integrations still make sense.

ATTENTION: For a limited time until mid-January 2025, you and I will receive not just €50 but €100 at Tibber as a bonus! Just scroll to the end of this article to find out whether a dynamic electricity tariff might be for you.
― Joachim

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What are cloud and local integrations?

Cloud integrations connect your devices to external servers over the internet. This lets you access them from anywhere in the world. Examples include Google Nest, Amazon Alexa, and Ring cameras. The cloud offers convenience, but it also comes with risks.

Local integrations, by contrast, run directly in your home network – with no internet connection required. Typical examples are Zigbee devices or ESPHome sensors controlled via a local hub. Local integrations give you more control and independence.

Risks of cloud integrations

Privacy and data security

Many cloud devices send sensitive data to manufacturer servers. A prominent example is the VW data leak in 2024, where a vulnerability exposed the data of 800,000 customers. Security gaps like this can give unauthorized third parties access to your private data.

Vendor dependency

Another risk is dependence on the manufacturer’s services. A well-known example is the Revolv Smart Home Hub, whose servers were shut down by Google in 2016. Users were suddenly left with useless hardware.

Attack surface for hackers

Insecure cloud connections can serve as an entry point into your home network. Once an attacker gains access to a cloud-connected device, they could potentially compromise other devices on your network.

Dependence on internet connectivity

Cloud devices rely on a stable internet connection. If a server goes down or your internet is disrupted, they often stop working entirely. This can cause serious problems with security-critical applications like smart door locks.

Advantages of local integrations

Full data control

With local integrations, all data stays within your home network. You’re not relying on a third party’s data security practices and you minimize the risk of data leaks.

Independence from external services

Local integrations work even without an internet connection. A Zigbee light switch, for example, keeps working even if your internet goes down.

Smaller attack surface

Because there’s no connection to the internet, there are fewer ways for attackers to compromise your network.

Fast response times

Local systems react instantly, since no data has to travel over the internet. This is a decisive advantage for automations and scenarios that depend on precise timing.

How to make cloud integrations more secure

If you want or need to use cloud integrations, there are steps you can take to minimize the risk:

Two-factor authentication (2FA): Enable 2FA to make unauthorized access to your accounts harder.
Strong passwords: Use complex, unique passwords for every service.
Regular updates: Keep all devices and apps up to date to close security vulnerabilities.
Use a separate network: Place cloud devices on a guest network to protect your main network.

When should you choose cloud or local?

Cloud integrations are a good fit if you want to access your devices from anywhere or need complex additional features that depend on external services.

Local integrations are the better choice if you prioritize privacy, security, and reliability.

Conclusion

The choice between cloud and local integrations depends heavily on your individual needs. Both approaches have their pros and cons, but with the right security measures you can minimize the risks. My recommendation: use local integrations wherever possible, and secure your cloud devices carefully. That makes your smart home not just smarter – but also more secure.

Do you already have a dynamic electricity tariff? Tibber is one of the first providers to offer such a tariff in Germany. I’ve been a customer since October 2022, and it’s been a thoroughly positive experience. Tibber offers a clearly structured, modern app where you always have full oversight of your electricity tariff and costs. Pricing is very transparent: Tibber only charges what electricity actually costs on the exchange at any given moment (plus standard grid fees, etc.), plus a service fee of just €3.99 per month.

If Tibber sounds like an option for you, I’d be glad if you sign up via my referral link. That gets both you and me €100 for the Tibber Store, where you can buy various IoT hardware for your smart home. If you’re already a Tibber customer and haven’t used a referral link, you can still do so within 14 days — use code vkccaupl.

Have questions or still unsure? Don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m happy to help you figure out whether Tibber is the right choice for you. And if it turns out it isn’t — you can cancel Tibber month by month at any time!

Thank you for your support! It makes it possible for me to keep creating videos for you.

― Joachim

Note: Links marked with affiliate link are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means I receive a small commission if you purchase through these links — at no extra cost to you. The revenue helps me run this blog and YouTube channel and keep creating content. Thank you for your support!
― Joachim

When your smart home suddenly turns dumb – and what you can do about it – Concrete examples of manufacturers shutting down their cloud: Bose SoundTouch, Neato, and more.
Home Assistant Backups in 2025 – Your data safe and recoverable at any time – If you rely on local control, you should also back up your data locally.

Securing Home Assistant - 5 Security Mistakes to Avoid in Your Smart Home

Fri, 13 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

ATTENTION: For a limited time until mid-January 2025, you and I will receive not just €50 but €100 at Tibber as a bonus! Just scroll to the end of this article to find out whether a dynamic electricity tariff might be for you.
― Joachim

In the Home Assistant forum, someone opened their port 8123 in January 2025 – and described how login attacks started within minutes. Massive, automated, relentless. This is not an isolated case. Using services like Shodan, attackers can find open Home Assistant instances in seconds.

Most of these attacks are preventable. Not through complicated measures, but through five things that many people simply never set up.

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Home Assistant was built with privacy and IT security in mind, letting you run your smart home completely locally and independently of manufacturers. The local approach minimizes the risk of data leaks. With options like SSL, user management, and regular updates, you can make Home Assistant one of the most secure vendor-independent solutions available – if you use the security features correctly.

Many users overlook important security features or don’t take full advantage of what Home Assistant offers. The problem: this creates unnecessary attack surfaces, so-called attack vectors, through which hackers could break into your smart home. Whether it’s weak passwords, unsecured connections, or outdated software – it’s often small oversights that can have major consequences.

In this article, I’ll show you 5 typical security mistakes and how to avoid them. I’ll give you tips to make Home Assistant even more secure. Whether you’re just setting up your smart home or have been using it for a while – these tips will help you identify potential vulnerabilities and better protect your home.

Mistake 1: Using Weak Passwords or Default Passwords

A classic that is still underestimated: weak or even pre-set default passwords. Many smart home devices connected to Home Assistant come with simple default passwords like ‘admin’ or ‘1234’. And the problem is: these passwords are not only easy to remember, they’re also easy to hack. Attackers use automated programs that try exactly these default passwords in seconds.

Why is this dangerous? A weak password can allow attackers not only to gain access to your smart home, but through Home Assistant to all your devices and automations. Imagine someone being able to control your lights, access cameras, or even disable alarm systems – that would be an absolute nightmare.

The solution is fortunately simple: change default passwords immediately after setting up your device. Use a strong password with at least 12 characters – length is more important than complexity here. Lowercase letters and digits are often perfectly sufficient, as long as the length is right.

Even better is using a password manager like KeePass. It not only generates secure passwords but also stores them securely, so you only need to remember one master password.

My tip: Give every user and every service in your smart home its own password. This minimizes the risk of a single compromised password putting your entire smart home at risk.

Mistake 2: Ignoring Firmware and Add-on Updates

Another major mistake that’s made frequently: not performing updates regularly. Home Assistant itself, as well as the devices you control with it, run on software that needs to be updated regularly – not just to get new features, but above all to close security vulnerabilities.

Why is this so important? Outdated software is a goldmine for hackers. When vulnerabilities become known – and this happens more often than you might think based on media coverage – attackers can specifically search for devices with those security gaps. One website, for example, automatically lists surveillance cameras found to be unprotected from access.

The good news: Home Assistant makes it easy to stay up to date. You can immediately see when updates are available on the dashboard. And with one click, you can install them. The same applies to custom components you’ve installed through the Home Assistant Community Store (HACS).

My tip: Schedule regular maintenance windows for your smart home – at least once a month. Set aside 15 minutes to apply all available updates for Home Assistant, your add-ons, and devices. This not only makes your system more secure but also ensures everything runs smoothly.

Mistake 3: Not Setting Up a Separate Network for Smart Home Devices

A common mistake many smart home users make: connecting all their devices – from lights to thermostats to cameras – to the same network used by their laptops, smartphones, and tablets. This sounds convenient at first, but it’s exactly what can become a problem.

What risks does this create? Smart home devices often have fewer security mechanisms than your laptop or smartphone. Many devices are only minimally secured or are based on older technologies that are vulnerable to attacks. If a hacker compromises a single device on your network – for example, a cheap smart plug or an unsecured camera – they gain the same access to your home network as a visitor in your home to whom you’ve given access to your private Wi-Fi.

The solution? Set up a separate network for your smart home devices. This sounds complicated, but it’s easier than you might think.

Most modern routers offer the option to create a so-called guest network. You can use this not only for visitors but also for smart home devices that communicate via the manufacturer’s cloud – because those are exactly the ones critical to the security of your home network.

Your Home Assistant installation, on the other hand, should be placed in your regular home network along with the smart home devices that don’t require internet communication. If you want to be extra safe, you can block those devices from accessing the internet through your router settings.

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You can tell whether a smart home device communicates via the cloud in Home Assistant by checking the relevant integration. If it says “Dependent on the internet,” that integration and its associated device is such a candidate. Devices that don’t communicate with the internet but directly with your Home Assistant installation cannot be reached by a hacker from the internet and are therefore less critical.

Mistake 4: Not Using Two-Factor Authentication

A frequent mistake that often happens out of convenience or lack of awareness: not enabling two-factor authentication – or 2FA for short. Yet 2FA is one of the simplest and most effective measures to prevent unauthorized access to important systems like your Home Assistant installation and thus your smart home.

Why should you care? Imagine someone gets hold of your password – through phishing, a data leak, or because you reuse the password across services. Without 2FA, attackers can immediately access your Home Assistant and control your entire smart home: capture camera feeds, manipulate automations, or view sensitive data. With 2FA, however, they also need a second confirmation code generated only on your device – which makes it nearly impossible for hackers to hijack your account.

The good news: Home Assistant supports 2FA and makes setup straightforward. Simply go to Settings under Users and enable two-factor authentication. Use an authenticator app such as Google Authenticator, Authy, or Microsoft Authenticator. These apps generate new one-time codes every 30 seconds that you need to log in. Important: store the backup codes that Home Assistant generates in a safe place – for example, as a printout in a folder. This lets you recover your account if you lose access to the authenticator app.

My tip: Enable 2FA not just for your admin account, but for all users who have access to Home Assistant – especially for accounts other than your own. This gives you the assurance that nobody can unauthorized manipulate your system, regardless of the permissions of the associated user or how carelessly other users handle their passwords.

Mistake 5: Integrating Insecure or Unknown Devices into Home Assistant

One of the biggest advantages of Home Assistant is that you can integrate devices from a wide variety of manufacturers. This makes your smart home extremely flexible, but it also comes with risks. Many users buy cheap smart home devices from unknown or questionable manufacturers without checking how secure they actually are.

Why is this a problem? Insecure devices can act like a Trojan horse: if they are poorly programmed or intentionally built with backdoors, hackers can use these devices as an entry point into your network. Some cheap devices even send data unencrypted to servers you can’t control. This allows attackers not only to spy on your private data but also to gain access to other devices on your network.

The solution? Buy devices from reputable manufacturers: make sure they provide regular firmware updates and support established standards like Zigbee, Z-Wave, or Matter.

Check data transmission: use local integrations that communicate directly with Home Assistant, rather than devices dependent on a cloud. Platforms like Zigbee2MQTT or ESPHome are ideal because they give you full control over your data. Block unnecessary traffic: with tools like a modern router or firewall, you can prevent devices from communicating with the internet without authorization.

My tip: Be cautious with extremely cheap devices or products that offer little documentation or support. Infrequent updates can also be a warning sign. If you’re unsure, check reviews or community discussions about a device before buying – you’ll find out whether there are known vulnerabilities, whether the device should be considered potentially problematic, and how often updates are released.

Conclusion

Avoiding these five security mistakes takes you a big step toward a more secure smart home. Which security measures are you already using? If you have additional tips, feel free to share them in the comments.

Do you already have a dynamic electricity tariff? Tibber is one of the first providers to offer such a tariff in Germany. I’ve been a customer since October 2022, and it’s been a thoroughly positive experience. Tibber offers a clearly structured, modern app where you always have full oversight of your electricity tariff and costs. Pricing is very transparent: Tibber only charges what electricity actually costs on the exchange at any given moment (plus standard grid fees, etc.), plus a service fee of just €3.99 per month.

If Tibber sounds like an option for you, I’d be glad if you sign up via my referral link. That gets both you and me €100 for the Tibber Store, where you can buy various IoT hardware for your smart home. If you’re already a Tibber customer and haven’t used a referral link, you can still do so within 14 days — use code vkccaupl.

Have questions or still unsure? Don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m happy to help you figure out whether Tibber is the right choice for you. And if it turns out it isn’t — you can cancel Tibber month by month at any time!

Thank you for your support! It makes it possible for me to keep creating videos for you.

― Joachim

Note: Links marked with affiliate link are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This means I receive a small commission if you purchase through these links — at no extra cost to you. The revenue helps me run this blog and YouTube channel and keep creating content. Thank you for your support!
― Joachim

These 5 Automation Mistakes Every Home Assistant User Has Made – Before security is solid, automations need to be reliable
5 More Home Assistant Automation Mistakes – Are You Affected? – Newer pitfalls around trigger IDs, script modes, and AI-generated automations

IT Security on Smart Home? Sure — But Secure!

Robot Vacuums in the Smart Home - The Underestimated Data Hog

Introduction

The Ecovacs Incident of 2024

The Underestimated Problem of Profiling

What Does This Mean for Robot Vacuums?

Why This Matters

Concrete Recommendations

Conclusion

Cloud Integrations vs. Local Integrations

What are cloud and local integrations?

Risks of cloud integrations

Privacy and data security

Vendor dependency

Attack surface for hackers

Dependence on internet connectivity

Advantages of local integrations

Full data control

Independence from external services

Smaller attack surface

Fast response times

How to make cloud integrations more secure

When should you choose cloud or local?

Conclusion

Related articles

Securing Home Assistant - 5 Security Mistakes to Avoid in Your Smart Home

Mistake 1: Using Weak Passwords or Default Passwords

Mistake 2: Ignoring Firmware and Add-on Updates

Mistake 3: Not Setting Up a Separate Network for Smart Home Devices

Mistake 4: Not Using Two-Factor Authentication

Mistake 5: Integrating Insecure or Unknown Devices into Home Assistant

Conclusion

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