Where you place a wireless router can make all the difference in its range. While you probably already realize walls, floors and ceilings can hinder a Wi-Fi broadcast, you should pay special attention to microwaves, fireplaces and electronic devices such as refrigerators or air conditioners. These can severely distort the signal.

Many smart TVs are capable of being controlled by voice commands, allowing you to easily switch channels or open apps. This convenience, however, comes with a trade-off; your TV might be listening to your conversations and sending this audio data to a server over an unsecured connection. Unless you absolutely need this feature, it is […]

A skilled cybercriminal is capable of remotely turning on cameras to spy on you. If you’re not using a camera, whether it’s part of an in-home security system or webcam, it’s best to disconnect it entirely.This is particularly important if you have an in-home security system. Make sure to turn off the power to the […]

If you have a home security system, it might be vulnerable to individuals with malicious or mischievous intentions. That’s because it uses Wi-Fi — meaning someone can break into it. The footage that your cameras pick up could potentially be made public or used for nefarious purposes. This can include private video and audio which […]

All other wireless encryption methods are obsolete and more vulnerable to exploitation. In early 2018, the Wi-Fi Alliance announced WPA3 as a replacement to the longstanding WPA2 wireless encryption standard. If WPA3-certified devices are available, you should employ the newer standard.

Lots of the latest smart TVs include automatic content recognition (ACR), which studies everything you view on the device – whether it’s streamed over the internet, cable, or via broadcast television – and uploads this information to a server for use in a recommendation engine. To guard your privacy, turn off this setting; its name […]