IoT Survival Guide
This post will be a growing list of suggestions and things you should think about if you want to survive the pending onslaught of Internet of Things applications, programs, and devices headed your way.
- Ask yourself if you REALLY need the device/application and if it will substantially gain you value in respect of using it. If the answer is no or I don't know....you probably do not need it.
- If you decide to purchase an IoT device inquire about how it handles both PRIVACY and SECURITY. These are often two different things although some people try to lump this in altogether.
- Enable all security and privacy features of any IoT device purchased. Yes it can be a bit of a pain in the butt but if you do this at setup/activation of your product it will be on less thing you will have to worry about later.
- Ask the manufacturer how they handle security/system updates to the device. This is very important, the more manual and non-automated means by which they do this means more work on your part and more likely a less up to date device over time.
- Find out what is the bare minimum information needed by the device and only use that.
- Keep an eye and awareness of cross-application/device access that facilitates ease of use or non useful social capabilities. If not needed do not use it period.