The recent distributed denial of service attack on Domain Name Server provider Dyn Inc. illustrated just how vulnerable home networks and smart devices are.

While they provide numerous benefits to consumers, they present some very real risks, most of which can be managed with some basic steps.

Just like they protect their work networks with software and passwords, consumers need to transfer those same online practices to their homes to protect devices such as smart televisions, baby monitors, refrigerators and thermostats from being hacked.

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Patricia L. Harman

Patricia L. Harman is the editor-in-chief of Claims magazine, a contributing editor to PropertyCasualty360.com, and chairs the annual America's Claims Event (ACE), which focuses on providing claims professionals with cutting-edge education and networking opportunities. She covers auto, property & casualty, workers' compensation, fraud, risk and cybersecurity, and is a frequent speaker at insurance industry events. Contact her at [email protected]