Last Updated on May 16, 2024 by Arnav Sharma
As digital transformation takes over industries and daily lives, wearable devices have become increasingly popular among Australians. A report by MarkWide Research on the wearables market in Australia notes that such devices include smartwatches, fitness trackers, smart glasses, virtual reality headsets, and smart clothing, with applications for fitness and wellness, healthcare, entertainment and gaming, and business and enterprise.
While these wearable devices offer the key benefits of convenience and enhanced user experience, their advanced sensors and wireless connectivity can expose device owners to potential security risks, such as hacking or leaks of personal information. Fortunately, you can adopt the following cybersecurity practices to maintain data privacy, interoperability, and ownership.
Take control of the user privacy settings
Among the popular wearables is tech-enhanced eyewear, as exemplified by the Ray-Ban smart glasses released in partnership with Facebook’s parent technology company, Meta. These smart glasses are available in the iconic designs of Ray-Ban sunglasses, such as the Original Wayfarer Classic. Besides maintaining the timelessness and everyday wearability of the brand’s signature frame styles, these glasses are also characterised by their multimedia capabilities, wireless connectivity, and real-time content creation.
This means you can do live streams and post on social media without needing your smartphones, but there’s the risk of accidentally capturing sensitive data and sharing it with third parties like Meta. As such, device owners like you must manage the user privacy settings, mainly by choosing which type of content can be shared and posted, as well as selecting touch controls and hands-free voice commands for unlocking and powering off the device.
Prioritise network security
Like smart home appliances designed to connect every aspect of your home, from lighting to thermostat, wearables are also considered IoT (Internet of Things) devices. This means a device connected to a network, such as an Apple smartwatch, can compromise your entire ecosystem of smartphones, tablets, and/or laptops if hackers manage to steal or access it.
So, a previous post entitled ‘Network Security in the Age of Smart Devices’ reminds you to secure your Wi-Fi network by implementing a strong password, using the latest security protocol, and hiding your SSID from unauthorised users and potential hackers. Additionally, it helps to avoid connecting to free public Wi-Fi networks, as you can raise the risk of exposing confidential information and infecting your device with malware.
Use strong and unique passwords
Despite the convenience of having your smart device on you at all times, wearing your smartwatch, smart glasses, or fitness tracker means it can easily get misplaced or stolen. As such, it helps to protect your device and its linked accounts with strong and unique passwords. Ensure the codes don’t contain personal information like your name, birthday, or email address to make it harder for hackers to guess.
Since it’s recommended to use unique passwords for every device and user account, consider investing in a password manager like Nordpass to generate, organise, and store all your passwords in one place. Nordpass allows unlimited password storage and keeps your personal information secure through end-to-end encryption. Additionally, you can strengthen your device security by unlocking two-factor authentication via biometric fingerprint, face ID, or mobile number verification.
In addition to these cybersecurity tips, remember to check your device for software updates to ensure you have the latest security patches and privacy features. Continue reading the latest posts here at Arnav.au for more guides and resources on all things related to digital security.