How to Keep Your Smart Home Safe with VLANs

Smart home devices are becoming increasingly popular, but they can also be a security risk. These devices are often connected to the internet and can be easily accessed by hackers. If a hacker gains access to one of your smart home devices, they could potentially control your lights, locks, thermostat, and other devices. They could also steal your personal information or even use your devices to launch attacks on other networks.
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VLANs, or Virtual Local Area Networks, can be used to improve the security of your smart home!

In this blog post, we will discuss how VLANs can be used to improve the security of your smart home. We will also provide some tips on how to set up VLANs on your home network.

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What are VLANs and how do they work?

VLANs, or Virtual LANs, are a way of dividing up your home network into smaller, more manageable groups. The separation is virtual, which means that there is no need to duplicate equipment or use two separate internet connections. The network equipment and software handles this part for you.

VLANs can be helpful for a number of reasons, including:

• Security: VLANs can help to improve security by isolating devices that you don't want to be able to communicate with each other. For example, you could create a VLAN for your smart home devices, so that they can't communicate with your work devices. This would help to protect your smart home devices from being hacked or infected with malware or vice versa. 
• Performance: VLANs can help to improve performance by reducing the amount of broadcast traffic on your network. Broadcast traffic is sent to all devices on your network, regardless of whether they need to receive it. VLANs can help to reduce broadcast traffic by isolating devices into smaller groups.
• Administration: VLANs can make it easier to administer your network by grouping devices together based on their function or location. For example, you could create a VLAN for each floor of your house, so that you can easily configure policies and permissions for each floor.

VLANs work by assigning each device on your network a VLAN ID. This ID is used to determine which devices can communicate with each other. Devices with the same VLAN ID can communicate with each other, while devices with different VLAN IDs cannot.
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VLANs can be a bit technical to set up, but there are plenty of tutorials available online. Including ours (Check out our Youtube). 

Guest VLANs: More than just security

Most of the time, you're probably going to trust the people you give your WiFi details to. So, from a security perspective, a guest VLAN in a home environment may seem like overkill. However, guest VLANs are about more than just security.

For example, if you have a smart music system like Sonos or use a music service like Spotify, you've probably had a friend change your music at some point. That's where a VLAN can help! By using a separate virtual network, you can allow guests to use the internet but block them from accessing your smart devices like speakers. This can be a great way to protect your privacy and keep your guests from accidentally (or intentionally) messing with your music. It can also be a good way to prevent guests from downloading malware or viruses onto your network.

If you're looking for a way to improve the security and privacy of your home network, a guest VLAN is a great option. And it's not just about security. VLANs can also be used to improve performance and administration.
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So, if you're thinking about setting up a guest VLAN, don't think of it as just a security measure. It's a versatile tool that can be used to improve your home network in a number of ways.

How VLANs can be used to improve the security of your smart home

Smart home devices are becoming increasingly popular, but they can also be a security risk. These devices are often connected to the internet and can be easily accessed by hackers. If a hacker gains access to one of your smart home devices, they could potentially control your lights, locks, thermostat, and other devices. They could also steal your personal information or even use your devices to launch attacks on other networks.

VLANs can be used to improve the security of your smart home by isolating your devices from each other. This means that if a hacker does gain access to one of your devices, they will not be able to access your other devices or your personal information.

To set up VLANs for your smart home, you will need a router or switch that supports VLANs. You will also need to assign each of your devices to a separate VLAN. Once you have done this, your devices will be isolated from each other and the internet.

Here are some specific examples of how VLANs can be used to improve the security of your smart home:
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• You can create a VLAN for your smart home devices and then assign that VLAN to a separate subnet. This will make it more difficult for hackers to find and attack your smart home devices.
• You can create a VLAN for your guests and then assign that VLAN to a separate subnet. This will prevent your guests from accessing your smart home devices and your personal information.
• You can create a VLAN for your IoT devices and then assign that VLAN to a separate subnet. This will help to protect your IoT devices from being hacked or infected with malware.
• You can create a VLAN for a device(s) that has raised some security concerns and then assign that VLAN to a separate subnet. This will isolate the device from your other devices and the internet, making it more difficult for hackers to access it.

VLANs are a powerful tool that can be used to improve the security of your smart home. By isolating your devices from each other, you can help to protect them from hackers and other security threats.

The threat from China! VLAN your way to safety.

In the Western world, it seems like every day there's a new story about a Chinese technology company being reviewed, restricted, or even banned. While this is not a political site, and whether or not China has or has not planted backdoors in its products is not something we're here to discuss, one thing is for sure: China makes some great tech products.
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So, what if you want to install some Chinese products in your home but have security concerns? VLANs can help to improve security by isolating devices that you don't want to be able to communicate with the rest of your network.

For example, you could create a VLAN for your Chinese devices and then assign that VLAN to a separate subnet. This would isolate your Chinese devices from your other devices making it more difficult for hackers to access them.

How to set up VLANs on your home network

Setting up VLANs on your home network can be a relatively simple process, but it does require some specific equipment. You will need a router or switch that supports VLANs, and you will need to know how to configure your devices to use VLANs.

If you are not familiar with VLANs or how to configure your devices, you can hire a company like us, Home Network Solutions. Alternatively, you can use some of the great resources available online. Check out our YouTube channel for VLAN guides and other networking and smart home tips, tricks, and reviews.

Once you have the necessary equipment and knowledge, setting up VLANs on your home network can be a quick and easy way to improve your network security and performance.

To set up VLANs on your home network, you need:

• A router or switch that supports VLANs
• A computer with an Ethernet port
• A cable tester (optional)
• One or more access points (if you want to use VLANs for your WiFi network)

Here are some of the steps involved in setting up VLANs on your home network:

1. Configure your router or switch to support VLANs.
2. Assign each device on your network to a VLAN.
3. Configure your devices to use VLANs.
4. Configure your access points to use VLANs (if applicable).
5. Test your VLAN configuration.

If you are not comfortable setting up VLANs yourself, why not get in touch with us? We can help set up your VLANs for you. Even if you are not in the UK, we can often remotely implement these services! Contact us for details.

Tips for keeping your smart home safe, even if you don't use VLANs

• Keep your devices up to date. Smart home devices are often updated with security patches, so it's important to keep your devices up to date with the latest firmware.
• Use strong passwords. Use strong passwords for all of your smart home devices. A strong password is at least 12 characters long and includes a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
• Enable two-factor authentication. Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security to your smart home devices. When you enable 2FA, you will be required to enter a code from your phone in addition to your password when you log in to your device.
• Change the default passwords. When you set up your smart home devices, they will come with default passwords. It's important to change these passwords as soon as possible.
• Use a firewall. A firewall can help to protect your smart home devices from unauthorized access. If your router doesn't have a built-in firewall, you can install a third-party firewall.
• Be careful about what you connect to your network. Only connect devices to your network that you trust. If you're not sure whether you can trust a device, don't connect it to your network.

Conclusion

In conclusion, VLANs can be a great way to improve the security of your smart home. By dividing your network into smaller, more manageable groups, you can isolate devices that you don't want to be able to communicate with each other. This can help to protect your smart home devices from unauthorized access, even if they are connected to the internet.
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If you're concerned about the security of your smart home, consider using VLANs. They are a relatively simple way to improve your security, and they can be used with any type of device, regardless of where it's made.

I hope you enjoyed this blog and found it useful! Please feel free to add your comments below!