Smart devices must be on a separate Wi-Fi network

Nowadays we have more and more smart devices at home. We can use smart speakers, vacuum cleaners, lights, among many others. As many benefits as a smart home brings, it is not without headaches. Just like a smartphone and computer, smart home devices require internet access. This is mainly so that the devices can communicate with each other, so that the owner can manage their settings and so that an occasional update can be made. However, this can mess with network settings and speed. To make everything simpler, smart devices should be on a separate Wi-Fi network from your personal devices (computers and smartphones).

Smart devices must be on a separate Wi-Fi network

Enhanced safety precautions

There is no greater reason than security to connect all smart home devices to a separate network. The fact that someone enters a home’s personal network can have lifelong repercussions. There have been reports of hackers gaining control over a smart device such as a baby monitoring camera, which is a significant security concern. An especially skilled hacker could use this access to launch a denial of service to the device and any other device connected to the same network.

It doesn’t have to be something with a camera either. Criminals can use something as benign as a smart speaker to cause chaos. If bad actors gain control over these smart devices, they could block owners from accessing their laptops or, worse yet, gain access to sensitive documents stored on their computers. This leads to identity theft and computers being held for ransom. An isolated network for smart devices adds a layer of protection as it limits devices connected to the main network you use for your phone and computer.

Fewer devices to congest the network

With the rise in popularity of smart devices, homes around the world are becoming more digital with each passing day. A single individual may not have more than four devices running on their network. However, someone committed to transforming their home into a smart home with a few revolutionary devices may have more than 10. However, when there are too many devices running on the same network, users will have little bandwidth, which makes simply browsing the Extremely slow web.

When a network becomes too slow, the connection can timeout and interrupt all communication between devices and the router. Congestion is especially likely if owners connect their devices to a 2.4GHz network.

This isn’t a problem if the only devices on the network are smart ones, but when that includes personal computers, laptops, and resident and guest cell phones, the problem accumulates and takes its toll. The situation only gets worse when using smart devices that don’t connect to a hub, as is the case with some WiFi light bulbs.