Survey results show Britons unconcerned about smart home security

A majority of UK respondents proved unaware that the devices could be hacked, with only 27% demonstrating knowledge of the risk.

This compared to 45% of Americans who are more sceptical of the devices overall – 52% outright stated they believe smart home devices are unsafe and only 31% thought the opposite.

Interestingly, at 36%, the number of Britons who don’t believe smart home devices to be safe was higher than the number that understood the devices could be hacked, indicating there is another cause for distrust of the technology.

Of those UK respondents who believe smart home devices can be hacked, 62% considered the risk unlikely or very unlikely.

That same result was reflected in US respondents’ answers, although the American cohort were less likely to designate the risk ‘very’ unlikely.

The results are described by the security provider as “worrying,” in light of a 2019 Avast report that noted 40.8% of households contained at least one vulnerable device.

Specops says due to the connected capabilities of smart home devices, the risk is increased further, as an “unsecured lightbulb could end up giving hackers control of your alarm system, allowing them to enter your house undetected”.

The survey results also demonstrated a lack of knowledge about which devices were most at risk.

Participants incorrectly designated smart security cameras as high risk while conversely underestimating the vulnerability of smart hub devices.