Smart Home Devices: The Security Risks

Smart devices have become a popular topic in the P&C insurance world. Tools like smart thermostats, smoke detectors and water sensors offer the potential to halt property damage before it starts, protecting insurance customers from injury, property loss or both. Yet these devices come with risks. Smart devices often represent the most vulnerable point on any given network, exposing customers and insurers alike to potential risks. Insurance companies that understand these risks are better-poised to protect both customers and themselves. Smart home devices were a wildly popular gift during the 2018 holiday season. Amazon broke records for sales of its Echo and Alexa devices, Voicebot’s Bret Kinsella says. Sales of smart sensors, security systems, wearable devices and smart toys were also strong.