How-To Geek - Sunday, January 27, 2019 at 6:40 AM
Common Smarthome Myths That Just Aren’t True
[artist rendering of smarthome automation control system]Alexander
Supertramp/Shutterstock<https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/smart-home-automation-control-system-innovation-1149993809?src=library>
Smarthome technology has come a long way. It still isn’t for everyone, but some
of the common myths people use to avoid smarthome tech aren’t true. Smarthomes
don’t have to be expensive, and they aren’t always listening to you, for
example.
Myth: Smarthomes are Expensive
[Modern rural home with outdoor lighting at night]Dariusz
Jarzabek/Shutterstock<https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/photo-modern-house-outdoor-lighting-night-437067727?src=library>
Smarthomes can be expensive—especially if you go for a custom build designed
specifically for your home. But they don’t have to be expensive.
It’s easy to start small and then build out piece by piece from there. One
great way to do that is to pick up inexpensive smart
bulbs<https://www.reviewgeek.com/7074/the-best-smart-lights-that-arent-philips-hue/>
and see what you think. You could then consider adding a sensor or two. If you
are more comfortable with electricity, you can install smart light
switches<https://www.howtogeek.com/275844/how-to-install-and-set-up-the-belkin-wemo-light-switch/>
to control several bulbs for a little more than an inexpensive smart bulb.
The best thing to do is to watch for deals. Voice assistants like the Echo and
Google Home go on sale
frequently<https://www.reviewgeek.com/11191/you-can-still-take-advantage-of-some-awesome-amazon-echo-and-google-home-deals/?tag=823814-20>.
Even if the cost does add up, it’s easy to spread out that cost over time, so
you feel less of the bite. You don’t have to buy every gadget, and you
certainly don’t have to buy them all at once!
RELATED: How to Put Together Your First Smarthome (Without Getting
Overwhelmed)<https://www.howtogeek.com/305187/how-to-put-together-your-first-smarthome-without-getting-overwhelmed/>
Myth: Smarthomes are Always Listening to You
[Amazon Echo device in listening mode]
If you become a Smarthome owner, or at least a Voice Assistant user, you’ll
hear this frequently. But it isn’t true at all, at least not in the way people
fear. Voice Assistant devices, like
Alexa<https://www.howtogeek.com/235653/how-to-set-up-and-configure-your-amazon-echo/?tag=823814-20>
and Google
Home<https://www.howtogeek.com/337256/so-you-just-got-a-google-home.-now-what/>,
do always listen. But they are only listening for their wake word (like
“Alexa” or “Hey, Google”).
This wake word is locally processed, and until the device hears those specific
words, it sends nothing to Amazon or Google. As soon as they do recognize the
wake word, they process the command that follows and then send it off for cloud
processing. If these devices were recording everything they heard and sending
it to the cloud, you’d see a drastic rise in network usage that would be easy
to spot.
How easy? When an early Google Home mini review unit was malfunctioning and
recording near constantly, the tech reviewer who had the unit realized fairly
quickly<https://www.androidpolice.com/2017/10/10/google-nerfing-home-minis-mine-spied-everything-said-247/>.
This was, of course, unintentional, and Google was quick to remedy the
situation. But the point stands that near-constant recording is noticeable,
even to someone who isn’t a security researcher.
Both Amazon and Google also let you view (and delete) every voice command
you’ve ever given. Here’s how to view your history for the Amazon
Echo<https://www.howtogeek.com/319299/how-to-listen-to-and-delete-every-command-youve-ever-given-to-alexa/>
and the Google
Home<https://www.howtogeek.com/338678/how-to-find-and-delete-google-assistants-stored-voice-data/>.
Myth: Smarthomes are Easily Hacked
[Hooded hacker at laptop computer]
It stands to reason that every connected item is an additional avenue into your
home for hackers. But the weak point of your home probably isn’t your smart hub
or smart outlet. The weak point is probably your Wi-Fi Router. The key to any
secure connected home is a secure Wi-Fi
network<https://www.howtogeek.com/fyi/the-key-to-a-secure-smart-home-a-secure-wi-fi-network/>.
And nearly every vulnerability shown for smarthome devices has required
physical access to the device, or at the very least remote access through your
network.
If you can keep would-be bad actors out of your home and out of your network,
then you will have gone a long way to preventing any trouble.
And always remember. People who want to do you harm or steal your stuff are
likely to choose the most accessible path. Why hack a smart
lock<https://www.howtogeek.com/322576/are-smart-locks-secure/>, after all, when
you can break a window?
Myth: Smarthomes are Difficult to Implement
[Stringify control panel showing complex smarthome automation routine]
Once upon a time, there was a grain of truth to this myth. But Smarthomes are
easier than ever to implement. You can get by with installing some Phillips Hue
light
bulbs<https://www.howtogeek.com/275491/seven-clever-uses-for-philips-hue-lights/>
and a voice assistant of your choice. If you’ve ever changed a lock,
installing a smart lock is an almost identical process. If you have a little
technical know-how, you can follow the instructions to install a smart
thermostat like the
Nest<https://www.howtogeek.com/248396/how-to-install-and-set-up-the-nest-thermostat/>.
RELATED: How to Install and Set Up the Schlage Connect Smart
Lock<https://www.howtogeek.com/330039/how-to-install-and-set-up-the-schlage-connect-smart-lock/>
And if you can change out a thermostat, the chances are good you can install a
smart switch. Even if you aren’t comfortable with wiring a switch, a smart
plug<https://www.howtogeek.com/344882/which-smart-plug-should-you-buy/> is dead
simple to install. You plug it in and then plug your device into the smart
outlet. A quick setup routine in a smartphone app and you’re good to go
Voice Assistants by their very nature are straightforward to set up and use.
This is especially true if you get one with a display, like the Google Home
Hub<https://www.reviewgeek.com/11218/product-of-the-year-the-google-home-hub/>.
The key is keeping a smarthome simple is to start small and build up. Yes, as
you add more devices and start thinking about routines and
automation<https://www.howtogeek.com/359273/forget-voice-control-automation-is-the-real-smarthome-superpower/>,
things do get more complicated. But, you’ll also be growing more comfortable
with the tech as you go, and expanding will become easier and easier.
https://www.howtogeek.com/399151/common-smarthome-myths-that-just-aren%e2%80%99t-true/
David Goldfield
Assistive Technology Specialist
Feel free to visit my Web site
WWW.DavidGoldfield.info<http://WWW.DavidGoldfield.info>
