A VPN helps you to surf the Internet anonymously and expand your streaming catalog. According to BSI, VPN networks also meet an important purpose for the smart home.
The smart home is a potential gateway for criminal, but also from third parties. The BSI recommends smart home users to set up a VPN service. (Source: Montage: Netzwelt/ Image: Pixabay, Netzwelt with AI)
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Put on your own VPN
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Smart home protection with VPN: This is how it works
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Secure Smart Home: Only with specially placed VPN
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The most popular VPN services
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Set up VPN for the smart home: important tip
If you are the proud owner of a smart homes, you will surely enjoy the many comfort that this brings, from automatic light control to smart voice assistants to electronic door locks. However, if you do not secure your devices, it can be dangerous for you. The Federal Ministry of Security in Information Technology (BSI) even warns of this and therefore advises to head for your smart home devices using VPN network.
A VPN (Virtual Private Network) is a virtual and non -public network. Online you can obtain access to such networks via various VPN providers (external VPN services) by concluding a temporary subscription. Alternatively, there are also free VPN services. A third option is to create your own VPN, as is possible on Windows.
An external VPN service ends up as a VPN client on your devices, where you use it like a commercially available software. Depending on the operator, you can control a variety of servers in different countries, redirect your data traffic via them and thus hide your IP address. There are many good reasons for a VPN, but security and higher data protection are the best known.
Put on your own VPN
If you want to operate your VPN without external service, you can set it up directly via Windows, for example. This has the advantage that you are not dependent on an external provider during data transfer, but your company or home network forms the basis here, which also enables safe access on the go without third parties.
Under You will find Windows the corresponding setting in the “Network & Internet” options. Another option to set up your own VPN service consists of the Fritzbox. If you are technically a little hike, you can also program your own VPN, but you really have to know what you do so that there are no problems.
Absolute security for your smart home does not guarantee such a VPN. Hundred percent encryption is not given even with its own VPN. Nevertheless, a smart home connection secured by VPN is safe than a connection without VPN.
Smart home protection with VPN: This is how it works
But to what extent you protect your smart home? This is quickly explained: Most smart home providers require a cloud connection for their devices. It is often provided by an external company. The manufacturer or cloud operator now potentially is to capture your smart home activities. With this data you could then So the BSIcreate a profile of your private lifestyle.
And not only that: With such a cloud connection, your security is always dependent on the operators of the cloud server. If they become victims of a hacker attack due to a security gap, even strangers or even criminal access to data you have recorded can get. For example, you can use the data about your smart home activities to plan a break-in.
Secure Smart Home: Only with specially placed VPN
With a specially attached VPN you can protect yourself from these dangers, because with that you can control your smart home devices directly via the router of your home network and handle the cloud, explains the BSI. In addition, the home network can only be reached by the VPN with devices that you manually unlocked. From the outside, an intervention in your smart home system is almost impossible.
Can you also use the VPN service of an external provider? Basically yes, however, there are differences in terms of security, since you are dependent on the data protection promises and encryption mechanisms of the providers. In principle, such external VPN services are also not suitable for securing your smart homes, but primarily for other reasons, but primarily, for example, in order to circumvent country barriers in streaming services or to anonymize their own internet activity.
If the security of your smart homes is important to you, the effort is worthwhile to set up your own VPN server. If you want to use the typical advantages of VPN services, you can also complete a subscription from an external provider. Basically, the following applies that paid services usually offer more security functions than free VPNs.
The most popular VPN services
Since many well-known providers such as Cyberghost VPN, NordVPN or Surfshark offer their VPN subscriptions cheaper with special discount campaigns, you do not have to invest more than a few dollars a month. A look at our current recommendations:
go.expressvpn.com
go.expressvpn.com
9,7
9.7 out of 10 points
ExpressVPN convinces with high security, simple operation and reliable performance. In terms of price, it belongs to the upper category, but the range of functions and the focus on data protection …
- Free option: 30-day money-back guarantee
- Free locations: All countries and server locations
- Band width restriction: No bandwidth restriction
- Volume limitation: No volume limit
- Special features: Perfect VPN for free streaming on vacation
Set up VPN for the smart home: important tip
Should it be an independent VPN network for protection your smart home? Then you have to pay attention to a few things when setup.
So that the VPN connection can protect your entire home network, you should install it on your WLAN router, with which you have also connected your smart home devices. This grants the necessary security in the entire home network.
However, it is also worthwhile to secure individual devices such as Windows PCs and Smart TVs individually with a VPN if necessary if you do not have smart home devices. This applies to Android smartphones and iPhones all the more, since the VPN protection also applies in this case if you are on the go with your cell phone.
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