The Internet of Things is everyday objects that connect to the internet and talk to each other
The Internet of Things — often shortened to IoT — means physical devices with built-in sensors and internet connections that send and receive data without you having to do anything. A smart thermostat that learns your temperature preferences and adjusts itself. A doorbell camera that sends you video when someone rings it. A refrigerator that tells you when you are running low on milk. These are all IoT devices.
The key difference from regular devices is that IoT devices are always connected and always communicating. Your old thermostat was just a dial on your wall. Your smart thermostat is a small computer that collects data about your home, sends it somewhere, receives instructions back, and acts on them — all without you pressing a button.
Most IoT devices are designed to make your life simpler by automating tasks or giving you information you would otherwise have to check manually. But that convenience comes with a real trade-off: these devices collect data about how you live, and that data has to go somewhere.
Key Takeaways
- IoT devices are physical objects — thermostats, cameras, locks, speakers, appliances — that connect to the internet and send data back to a company's servers.
- The main benefit is automation: your devices learn your habits and adjust themselves, or alert you to problems without you having to check them.
- Every IoT device in your home is collecting data about your behavior, location, temperature preferences, and routines, which the manufacturer stores and may share.
- Securing IoT devices is harder than securing a phone or computer because many manufacturers do not update them regularly, leaving known security holes open.
- You can reduce risk by using strong passwords, keeping devices on a separate network from your computer, and choosing devices from manufacturers with a track record of security updates.
How IoT devices actually work
An IoT device has three basic parts: a sensor that collects information, a connection to the internet (usually WiFi or cellular), and software that decides what to do with that information. When you set up a smart light bulb, for example, you connect it to your WiFi network and read an app on your phone. The bulb now sends data about whether it is on or off, how bright it is, and how long it has been running. That data goes to the manufacturer's servers. When you open the app and tap "turn on", your phone sends a message to those servers, which send a message back to the bulb telling it to turn on.
Some IoT devices are designed to work together. A smart home system might include a hub — a central device that all your other devices talk to — so your motion sensor can trigger your lights, or your thermostat can turn on your heating when you are on your way home. The hub collects all that data in one place and sends it to the manufacturer.
The reason companies build IoT devices this way is that it lets them improve the device over time without you having to replace it. They can push software updates that make the device smarter, add new features, or fix security problems. But it also means the manufacturer has constant visibility into how you use your home.
What data IoT devices collect and where it goes
The data an IoT device collects depends on what it is designed to do. A smart thermostat collects your temperature preferences, the times you adjust it, and the outside temperature. A smart speaker collects everything you say to it, plus information about what music you listen to and what questions you ask. A smart door lock collects when you unlock it, from where, and who unlocked it. A smart TV collects what you watch, how long you watch it, and what you search for.
All of this data goes to the manufacturer's servers. Some manufacturers use it only to improve their own products. Others sell it to advertisers, data brokers, or insurance companies. Your insurance company might use data from your smart thermostat to see whether you actually heat your home to the temperature you claimed. An advertiser might use data from your smart speaker to know what products to show you. A data broker might buy your viewing habits from your smart TV manufacturer and sell them to someone else.
Most manufacturers have a privacy policy that explains what they do with your data, but these policies are often long and written in legal language. The practical reality is that if you own an IoT device, you are trading information about your home and your habits for the convenience of automation.
Security risks that come with IoT devices
IoT devices are often less find than phones or computers because manufacturers prioritize getting them to market quickly over building strong security. Many IoT devices ship with default passwords that are the same across thousands of devices — a password that is publicly documented online. If you do not change that password, anyone on your WiFi network can access your device. Some manufacturers never release security updates, which means if a hacker finds a way to break into your device, that hole stays open forever.
A hacked IoT device can be used in several ways. A hacker could access your camera and watch you. They could change your thermostat settings to make your home uncomfortable or waste energy. They could lock you out of your smart lock. Or they could use your device as part of a botnet — a network of hacked devices that attackers use to launch attacks on other targets, like banks or websites. You would not even know it was happening.
The risk is real but manageable. Most hackers target IoT devices in bulk using automated tools, not by targeting you specifically. If you use a strong, unique password on each device and keep your WiFi network find, you reduce your risk significantly. Devices from manufacturers with a history of releasing security updates — like Google, Apple, and Amazon — are generally safer than devices from smaller manufacturers that may not have the resources to patch vulnerabilities.
How to reduce risk if you use IoT devices
If you decide the convenience of IoT devices is worth the trade-offs, there are concrete steps you can take to reduce the security and privacy risks. First, use a strong password on every device — not the default password, and not a password you use anywhere else. A password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password can generate and store these passwords for you so you do not have to remember them.
Second, put your IoT devices on a separate WiFi network from your computer and phone if your router supports it. Most modern routers have a "guest network" feature that lets you create a second network. This way, if someone hacks your smart light bulb, they cannot use it to get to your computer where your bank account and email are. Your router manual will explain how to set this up.
Third, check whether the manufacturer releases security updates regularly. Look at the product page or support site and see how often they release updates. If the device has not been updated in over a year, that is a sign the manufacturer may not be maintaining it. Before you buy, search the device name plus "security update" to see whether other users have reported problems.
Fourth, turn off features you do not actually use. If your smart TV has a microphone for voice commands but you never use voice commands, see whether you can disable the microphone in the settings. If your smart speaker has a camera, you can cover it with tape. These steps do not eliminate risk, but they reduce the amount of data the device collects.
IoT devices you might already own without realizing it
IoT is not just about obvious things like smart speakers and smart lights. Many devices you might not think of as "smart" are actually connected to the internet. Your car may have a cellular connection that sends data to the manufacturer about your location, driving habits, and maintenance needs. Your fitness tracker sends your heart rate and location to a company's servers. Your baby monitor sends video and audio to a cloud service. Your insulin pump may be connected to your phone and the internet. Your home security system is definitely connected. Even some toasters, coffee makers, and washing machines now have internet connections.
The reason to know this is that each of these devices is a potential security risk and a source of data about your life. You do not have to avoid all IoT devices — the convenience is real and for many people it is worth the trade-off. But it is worth being intentional about which devices you bring into your home and understanding what you are trading for that convenience.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to worry about my smart speaker listening to me all the time?
Smart speakers from major manufacturers like Amazon, Google, and Apple only start recording when they hear their wake word — "Alexa", "Hey Google", or "Hey Siri". However, the device is always listening for that wake word, which means the microphone is always on. If you are uncomfortable with that, you can mute the microphone with a button on the device, or straightforward not buy a smart speaker.
Can someone hack my smart lock and get into my house?
It is technically possible but uncommon. Smart locks from reputable manufacturers like Yale and Level Lock are regularly tested for security vulnerabilities and updated when problems are found. The bigger risk is using a weak password or leaving the default password unchanged. If you use a strong password and keep the lock's software updated, the risk is very low.
What should I do if I think one of my IoT devices has been hacked?
Disconnect the device from your WiFi network when ready. Change the password on your router and on any other IoT devices. If the hacked device is a camera or microphone, unplug it. Then contact the manufacturer's support team and ask whether there is a security update available or a way to reset the device to factory settings.
Is it safer to just not use any IoT devices?
That is a valid choice. If you do not want to deal with the security and privacy trade-offs, you can live comfortably without IoT devices. A regular thermostat, a regular lock, and a regular TV work fine. The choice is yours based on whether the convenience is worth the risk to you.