The Internet of Things (IoT) has become a central fact of our everyday lives. Whether you're driving around in a modern automobile replete with an array of sensors or rely on devices like Amazon's Alexa within the confines of your home, you've probably already immersed yourself into the world of the IoT. What few people understand, however, is that while the IoT has delivered us lovely luxuries it has also generated new security threats which must be managed to ensure our collective safety and privacy. 

Do you love the IoT, and have you recently invested in IoT devices at work or in your home? Here's a review of how to make IoT sensors more secure to ensure that nefarious actors aren't taking advantage of you. 

Check your automobile

When most everyday people think of the IoT, they probably think about devices like a Google Home or Amazon Alexa. This is understandable, as these easy-to-use commercial products are now cheap and widely available, and they're far more understandable that complex IoT sensors that tech experts make use of on a regular basis. Unfortunately, though, the fact that most people think about home gadgets when they think of the IoT means that there are certain blindspots which must be addressed to ensure our security.

Your automobile, for instance, may be plugged into the IoT without your knowledge. Checking the sensors on your car may seem like a hassle, but it can go a long way toward ensuring not only your privacy but also your physical security. Tech experts at Kapersky recently ran a number of tests to ascertain whether modern smartcars are as secure as their manufacturers would like us to believe. What they found was reassuring in some places but worrying in others; certain sensors can be hacked, for instance, though some of them aren't really important enough to pose any risks to drivers. 

You shouldn't be super suspicious of your automobile unless you work in a sensitive industry or are uniquely, personally vulnerable to hackers. Nevertheless, keep an eye on your vehicle and ensure that you're not letting those sensors go unnoticed as you seek to secure your lifestyle. 

Read product reviews

Most people aren't tech experts, and they can't single-handedly determine the legitimacy of a given IoT sensor. That's why it's important to read product reviews on platforms like hotrate.com which make this kind of information accessible to the average joe. Reading product reviews before you buy IoT gadgets will help you avoid those consumer goods which others have relied upon at their own peril before. Beside reading reviews for consumer goods, you can also take steps to ensure any IoT devices used by your company or small business are secure, too.

The 10 best practices for securing your organization's IoT devices are fairly manageable, even if you're not particularly tech-savvy. Carefully tracking your devices and ensuring they don't fall into the wrong hands is of the utmost importance, and this is true regardless of whether you're an entrepreneur relying on business IoT products or a normal person using a consumer-oriented device. If you're particularly concerned, hire a specialist to perform an IoT risk assessment which can identify weak points in your network security that need bolstering. 

The IoT can be scary; hackers have accessed baby cams and fiddled with IoT-connected home thermostats in the past. Who knows what kind of bizarre behavior tomorrow will bring? By focusing on securing your IoT data, however, and by keeping a very close track of where your devices roam, you can ensure that your IoT sensors are secure from outside attackers.