Smart Home Appliances Could Be the Biggest Cyber Risk in Your House
Imagine your fridge placing a grocery order days before you even realise you're low on milk. Your vacuum cleaner maps your carpet and reports back while you’re out. These “smart” features seem tailor-made for modern life—but with every tech twist comes a side-effect: cyber-vulnerability.
At their core, these connected devices, smart fridges, hoovers, ovens, washing machines are just computers. Often designed with convenience and novelty in mind, not security. That means weak passwords, outdated firmware, and a lifespan of support that doesn’t even stretch half the appliance’s physical life. Research shows over 87 % of smart-home devices remain in use without patches, leaving them prime targets for exploitation.
Fridges That Flirt with Hackers
Smart fridges aren’t just appliances—they’re potential entry points. Take the real-world tale: a compromised fridge, co-opted into a botnet, blasted out spam by the hundreds of thousands.
Criminals can pivot from that unsuspecting fridge into your network, retrieving data from your security cameras or tapping into your online accounts—an invasion that starts with something as innocuous as a food-preservation gadget.
They May Look Harmless—but They’re Vulnerable
Even if device communication is encrypted, passive eavesdropping on network traffic can reveal what you're up to—what appliances you use, when, and how—without cracking any passwords.
And the timeframe for this risk isn’t short. Many smart appliances outlive the tech companies’ support cycle. For example, numerous Hive smart-home devices in the UK were recently discontinued and even remotely disabled, leaving homeowners with otherwise functional devices that have since become security hazards.
When Devices Go Zombie—A Broader UK Risk
So-called “zombie” devices—still active but no longer receiving security updates—are quietly proliferating in UK homes. Without iOS-style updates, they become ripe for hijacking: spies, cryptominers or parts of botnet attacks could lurk undetected in your kitchen.
Consumer groups point out that most device owners are unaware of this issue; they’re sold on convenience, not longevity. And without clear disclosure from manufacturers on how long updates will continue, homes remain incubators for risk.
The Trail of Tiny Clues: Your Habits Exposed
IoT devices capture more than you think. Smart ovens may report cooking schedules; radios may listen for voice commands. This data—your daily cues, habits, presence or absence—feeds into cloud systems. If breached, it becomes a rich mosaic for cybercriminals.
Some appliances even request location or audio permissions completely unrelated to their primary function.
The Domino Effect: When One Breach Compromises Many
“If a hacker gets into one IoT device, they can hop laterally across your network,” security experts warn.
Even something as simple as a lightbulb, hoover, or speaker could become ground zero. Within seconds, your phone, your credit card details, your cloud-backed content—all at risk.
What’s Being Done and What You Can Do
There's momentum toward stronger security. The Matter standard is aiming to improve interoperability and embed security by design. In the UK, watchdogs and regulators are pushing for transparency and extended support periods.
Meanwhile, on the consumer side:
Ditch default passwords—use strong, unique credentials.
Enable two-factor authentication when offered.
Segment your network—put IoT devices on a guest Wi-Fi network to restrict lateral attacks.
Update firmware regularly—and when devices lose updates, consider disconnecting them.
Buy wisely—choose manufacturers with a strong record for security support.
Bottom Line
Your connected hoover, fridge or kettle may seem harmless, part of a digital convenience revolution. But without a security-first mindset, your smart home could be a breach waiting to happen. The solution isn’t ditching technology—but choosing wisely, configuring carefully, and demanding the industry does better.