STACK #185 Mar 2020

LIFE TECH WELCOME

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O ne of the questions we’re regularly asked when we talk about the smart home is: “Why should I bother investing in it?” For us, that’s an easy answer: why wouldn’t you bother investing in the smart home? We’re now busier than ever before, so any bit of domestic assistance is worth embracing. And over the last three or four years, smart home connectivity has come on in leaps and bounds; it’s become not only affordable but easy to install, too. With so many devices in the home now connected to the Internet, running your entertainment ecosystem, lighting, heating, cooling and security takes just a simple command on a smartphone. Taking the time to set ‘scenes’ (pre-programmed actions on an app) can automate just about every aspect of the house, from starting the day from the bed with a voice command that illuminates the lights, turns on the TV and even boils the kettle, to activating security cameras and monitoring the household while you’re away. Smart lighting can add an exciting dimension to the home movie experience, while smart plugs – connected via Bluetooth or Wi-Fi – can be used to monitor device electricity output or switch off hair straighteners remotely. Essentially, having a smart home is complete domestic convenience in the palm of your hand, but it also enables homeowners to monitor the usage of electricity and make the house more energy efficient. And with this increased connectivity, having a network system to support the plethora of devices has never been more important. This month, we get the skinny on implementing the right network solution for your needs. TECH LIFE

SAFE TIPS FOR THE SMART HOME

One of the questions we’re often asked is how secure is a smart home from hackers? The truth is that if it’s connected online, then very little is 100 per cent safe, although manufacturers are constantly at the forge updating and improving security. If you follow the steps below, you’re definitely helping in that fight and most of the points are common sense that we already employ in the cyber world. If you can’t remember all of your passwords off the top of your head, consider a password management system. Always keep all your login details secure. Don’t use your dog’s name, a date of birth or your favourite football team as a password. Pick a strong password with a minimum of 12 characters. Set a strong password for your Wi-Fi, too, and avoid calling the network by your name. You don’t need to give any potential hackers a head start. Install system updates as soon as you receive the prompts. Never access your smart home network through open or public Wi-Fi. Look after your smartphone. This is your universal remote, so you don’t want it falling into the wrong hands. Protect it with a passcode and face recognition security and make sure ‘find my phone’ is activated.

Did you know? Today we know Nokia as a telecommunications giant that spearheaded the development of mobile phone technology in the 1990s. However, the Finnish company began in 1856, opening a wood pulp paper mill in the town of Tampere before diversifying its business with the production of gumboots in 1898. From the late ‘60s Nokia worked in developing electronic and telecommunication devices, eventually launching its first mobile phone in 1987.

Cameras • Mirrorless vs DSLR: What’s the difference? • The rise and rise of the instant camera • Drone on

Coming next month

30

MARCH 2020

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