In an effort to make things easier, engineers have developed technology that connects all of your smart devices. This is has come to be known as the Internet of Things. Have you gone to the grocery store but forgot your grocery list? It's no problem, all you have to do is tap on the app that connects your phone to your refrigerator and you can see for yourself if you need more eggs or another half−gallon of milk. Want to make sure the baby is napping comfortably at Grandma's house while you're at work? No sweat. Just tap on the app and you can see video of the precious little one bundled up under his knitted blanket.

While you may use you connected technology for simple means, hackers use it for something far more wicked: stealing your sensitive data. If a cybercriminal has been able to get into your system and destroy files, steal passcodes and threaten information release, having a cyber security policy can soften the financial blow and get your life back on track.

The Hidden Dangers of the Internet of Things
According to the cybersecurity company GlobalSign, there are 5 common Internet of Things (IoT) cyber attacks. These include:

Botnets: Botnets are made up of a network of private computers corrupted with malware and controlled as a cluster with the owners' consent. This means that if one smart device in the home is infected, so are all of the other devices.

Social Engineering: This is when a hacker tries to procure user data and private information from the user on his own using phishing emails. Phishing emails can look like banking statements, electronic store receipts and friendly messages from work colleagues. If an email you open asks for a username and password, contact the company asking directly−do NOT type in and submit your information.

Denial of Service: Denial of Service (DoS) attacks are circulated through botnets. DoS attacks prohibit users from being able to access online sales services and other electronic infrastructures.

Man−In−The−Middle: The Man−In−The−Middle cyber attack is when a cybercriminal has successfully breached communication between two independent systems. This means a hacker can potentially get into your smart vehicle, even when all of your other systems report that the vehicle is locked.

Data and Identity Theft: This type of attack can happen when you enter your personal information on insecure sites, click on questionable links or forget to sign out of other permeable devices. It is good practice to log out of all unused screens and to maintain a different password for each.

While IoT makes daily living and communications easier, Business Insider reports that IoT manufacturers are not effectively implementing cybersecurity measures that would prevent cybercriminals from gaining access to an IoT network. Not only that, but people don't have the training to go in and fix networking issues should a hacker try and breach the network. The safest bet for families is a cybersecurity policy. If their sensitive data is stolen and/or destroyed, a cybersecurity policy will help lessen the financial blow.

If you're devices are connected, one of the smarter things to do is invest in a cybersecurity policy. To find a policy that's right for you, click here with Cyber Policy.