Most aren’t. The smart home industry has a terrible security track record.
Common problems:
- Default passwords that never get changed
- No security updates
- Weak or no encryption
- Excess permissions
Real incidents:
- Baby monitors hacked, strangers talking to children
- Smart locks opened remotely by anyone
- Security cameras streaming publicly by default
Before buying, ask:
- Does this NEED to be smart?
- Does the company have good security reputation?
- Will it get updates?
If you have smart devices:
- Change default passwords immediately
- Put IoT devices on a separate network
- Disable unused features (especially mics/cameras)
- Update firmware regularly
See: Self-hosted alternatives that work without cloud services.