5 ON YOUR SIDE: Smart appliance risks

All the internet-enabled smart appliances inside your home are useful, but are they putting your privacy at risk? Here’s what security experts at Consumer Reports discovered when they tested smart appliances and what you should do to keep your information private.

New home appliances often come with smart features that can make life easier. But this convenience can come with cybersecurity risks. That’s according to Steve Blair, data privacy expert at Consumer Reports.

Your phone connects to the internet; your computer connects to the internet; your TV connects to the internet; your light bulbs connect to the internet; your fridge connects to the internet. From a data perspective, a lot of information is leaving your home, not only from your phone but also from the device itself. This data could include your location, contact informati...