In light of this, you might be wondering how secure your data is with a smart thermostat. To help you in your quest of finding a privacy-friendly smart thermostat we dug into the privacy policies of different thermostat manufacturers and these are the ones we believe are the best: However, as with any device connected to the internet, a thermostat, too, can be vulnerable to hacking or unauthorized access. If a hacker gains access to your thermostat, they can potentially control your temperature, predict when you are at home or away, access personal information such as your home address, or even use the device as a stepping stone to attack other connected devices in your network. To stay safe, we recommend taking the following precautions:
Use NordVPN to anonymize your connection and data. Create strong passwords using 1Password. Keep the thermostat’s software up-to-date. Delete historical data. Limit app access on your phone.
However, there are privacy concerns that come along with the use of smart devices and the data they collect about you. Advertisers, hackers, burglars, and other types of criminals can exploit this data. In this article, we take a deep dive into smart thermostat privacy risks and the measures you can take to protect and limit data collection by your thermostat.
Your Smart Thermostat Knows More Than You Suspect
Smart thermostats do more than help keep your home at the perfect temperature. These devices also help homeowners save hundreds of dollars on energy bills. You only consume energy when you actually need it because the thermostat learns when you’ll be away and back home. But what else does your smart thermostat know about you? Here’s some of the information this device can collect about you:
Setup information like your name, email address, phone number, and zip code Environmental data about your home, collected from the thermostat’s sensors Direct adjustments made to the device by you, including temperature or settings Heating and cooling usage information Technical information from the device
Most thermostats collect more or less the same data. And even though that information may not be shared with third parties, you can imagine what would happen if it was to fall into the wrong hands. However, the benefits of using a smart thermostat may cause you to overlook the potential privacy concerns. You don’t share your online banking password or email with your thermostat, so how much risk to your privacy can it pose? Unfortunately, smart thermostats can create a security gap because they learn about your habits and behavior. Your thermostat learns when you will be home and when you will be away. The device even familiarizes itself with your sleeping patterns. The smart thermostat learns your preferred temperature settings while you are at home. This information reveals more about you than you might suspect, and this is why smart thermostat privacy can be a big issue.
The Best Smart Thermostats for Privacy
Smart thermostats offer many conveniences. But if you use a thermostat with poor privacy settings, this could cost you. Below, we dive into the best smart thermostats for privacy. These thermostats come equipped with settings and privacy policies that will help keep your information safe.
1. Google Nest
There’s a lot of controversy surrounding the privacy of Nest thermostats due to reported cases of these devices getting hacked. However, Google reported that the breaches occurred as a result of Nest users reusing passwords exposed in previous and unrelated hacks rather than the devices being directly exploited. We recommend the Nest thermostat because of its privacy-friendly policy and settings. For example, you can turn off “learning” features and adjust temperatures manually. Nest’s privacy policy also assures users that their information is not shared with third parties. The Nest thermostat does not have a microphone, and you can limit the data collected by Google. However, to enhance your smart thermostat’s security settings, ensure to also use a VPN to anonymize your connection, set a strong, unique password, and activate two-factor authentication.
2. Ecobee Premium
The Ecobee smart thermostat has several energy-saving features that can help you save money on your energy bills. For example, it can automatically adjust the temperature when you’re away, or you can set a schedule to optimize comfort and efficiency. With its remote sensing capabilities, the Ecobee smart thermostat can also detect temperature and occupancy in multiple rooms and use that information to adjust heating and cooling accordingly. Ecobee’s privacy policy states that the company does not collect data, store personal information, or share data with other companies. Instead, it only uses collected data for the purpose of improving its services. Additionally, the Ecobee thermostat has several security features in place to protect personal information. For example, it uses encryption to safeguard data transmitted between the thermostat and the smartphone app, and it has secure login methods such as password protection and two-step verification to prevent unauthorized access to the thermostat and user account.
3. Sensi
Sensi thermostats are manufactured by Emerson, which is an HVAC industry leader. It is easy to install mainly because the thermostat’s app walks you through the installation process. In terms of privacy, the company does not sell or share personal information with third parties, except in cases where it is necessary to improve its services or comply with legal requirements. The company states that it takes steps to secure personal information, such as using encryption and storing data in secure servers. Additionally, users have the ability to control their personal information through the settings on the device and the Sensi app.
Who Might Want Your Smart Thermostat Data
The information gathered by smart thermostats provides details on the behavioral patterns of their users. Anyone with access to that data can figure out when you are home or when you sleep, for example. As you can imagine, this information can be quite useful to malicious actors, such as the ones mentioned below.
1. Thieves
Burglars can use data they have gathered from your smart thermostat and break into your home. By analyzing trends of when your thermostat settings change, like temperature alternations, for example, a thief could determine the best time to break in.
2. Hackers
Internet of Things (IoT) devices like your smart thermostat have become a big target for hackers. Kaspersky reported that over 100 million attacks took place against IoT devices at the beginning of 2019. Hackers intrude on these devices to spy on you, use them as a foothold for further attacks, or create botnets, as in the case of the Mirai Botnet Attack.
3. Advertisers
Advertisers benefit from information about your activities as well. Some ads will have a higher impact on you soon after you wake up and others later in the evening. By spotting trends in your smart thermostat controls, an advertiser could send their ads to you at the right moment. This can dramatically increase their odds of making a sale. Marketers know the value of this information and may try to tease the data from your smart thermostat.
How Secure Is Your Privacy Policy?
Your choice of which smart thermostat to buy is often based more on the advantages of one thermostat over the other. Hence, you are unlikely to consider the security offered by their privacy policy. However, even if your smart thermostat has a strong privacy policy, there are several factors that can interfere with it.
Potential change in a company’s policies
Many smart thermostat manufacturers have solid privacy policies. Popular brands like Nest and Ecobee thermostats stand out for their solid commitment to privacy. But companies in the technology field are often sold and sold again. The Nest privacy policy specifies that if the company is sold, it will urge the new owner to hold the same high standard of privacy that they offer. There is no guarantee, though, that the privacy protections you enjoy today will still be in place tomorrow.
A server breach
There is also a risk that hackers could steal the data stored on the thermostat manufacturer’s servers. Even secure companies such as banks suffer data breaches that expose private information. If your data is stolen from a company server, this breach of your privacy could have serious consequences for you. No smart thermostat maker has yet reported any breach in consumer data. Privacy experts agree, though, that in most cases, a data breach is inevitable for any company. If the Pentagon can be hacked, no company is immune to a data breach. The safest policy is to treat your data as though you expect it to be compromised and take action from there.
How Can You Protect Your Privacy?
So, how can you safeguard yourself against the dangers of your data being exposed while using a smart thermostat? First, check the privacy policy of the smart thermostat manufacturer. While we’ve seen that this doesn’t offer perfect protection, starting with a company that places a priority on your privacy is a good way to help guard your information. To get the most value from any information your thermostat collects, an advertiser needs to be able to link it back to your profile. A thief looking to break in will need your location as well. Without linking the information back to you, your data is random noise. One way to keep this information private is to use a VPN.
1. Use a VPN to secure your home network
Connecting through a VPN secures your privacy by keeping your online activities anonymous. Information sent from your device is encrypted and passes through a secure VPN server and back. This makes it hard for a snooper to track your data back to you. Even though you can’t connect your smart thermostat directly to a VPN, you can install one on your router to protect the data on your thermostat and other devices. Since your information is sent anonymously, it’s almost impossible to figure out where the smart thermostat is. Ultimately, the use of a VPN will render any data stolen from you almost useless. To be anonymous online, we recommend the industry-leading NordVPN for its top-notch security, secure servers, and affordability.
2. Create strong passwords using 1Password
Hugo Teufel, Chief Privacy Officer (CPO) of Lumen Technologies and a former CPO at Dept. of Homeland Security, has emphasized that smart devices need strong passwords and should have access to regular software updates. One of the biggest risks of smart devices, such as your thermostat, is the use of weak passwords, re-using compromised passwords, or using the default username and password that came with the device. To be safe, you should use a strong password that helps prevent unauthorized access and protects your privacy. A strong password is unique, long, complex, and not easily guessable, making it less likely to be cracked by hackers. To do this, we recommend the industry-leading password manager, 1Password. This service provider will help you create, store, manage, and retrieve all your strong passwords.
3. Keep the thermostat’s software up-to-date
Software updates can bring about new features and bug fixes, which can make the device more efficient and user-friendly. In addition, updates can include security patches that help protect your home network and personal information. Keeping the software updated can also ensure compatibility with other smart home devices and applications. Furthermore, newer software versions are optimized for performance, ensuring that the thermostat operates smoothly and effectively. Make sure to regularly download software updates as soon as they are available from official sources only.
4. Delete historical data
Some thermostats may have a feature that allows you to delete data such as temperature logs, energy usage reports, or personal information. However, others may not have such a feature or may only allow you to reset the device to its factory settings, which would erase all data. If you are concerned about the data stored on your thermostat, it is recommended to check the manufacturer’s website or user manual for information on how to delete or reset the data. If you are unable to find this information, you can also contact the manufacturer’s customer support for assistance. It is important to keep in mind that resetting or deleting data from your smart thermostat can affect its performance or ability to provide you with accurate information, so be sure to understand the consequences before taking any action.
5. Limit app access on your phone
Most thermostats have a mobile app that allows you to control the device remotely. This offers many conveniences, such as pre-heating/cooling your house before you get home. However, the app may request access to some of your phone’s features, such as the microphone, which may allow the manufacturer to “listen in” and collect your personal data. To avoid this, restrict the app’s access to your smartphone’s features, such as its microphone, GPS (unless necessary), photo gallery, and camera.
Conclusion: Smart Thermostat Privacy
Smart thermostats are becoming essential devices for our homes and offices. They assist in reducing energy consumption, adjusting temperatures with ease, “learning” our preferred temps when we are home or away, and some can even play your favorite Spotify playlist! However, you need to be vigilant about the data your smart thermostat collects about you and what it does with it. Some smart thermostats like the Google Nest, the Ecobee Premium, and the Sensi have solid privacy policies that indicate data is not shared with third parties. Their privacy policies also make it clear that the data collected is only used to improve their services. You can also ensure your information stays safe by using a VPN, having strong passwords, and deleting historical data. If you want to learn more about how to improve the privacy of smart devices, have a look at these articles: Some smart thermostats also allow for the data to be shared with third-party services, such as energy providers or home automation platforms. The risk of a security breach can be reduced by using a reputable VPN, strong passwords, and keeping the device’s software up-to-date. Many smart thermostats also have built-in security features like encryption and firewalls to help protect against potential threats. By monitoring this data, a hacker can learn you behavioral trends such as when you wake up and go to sleep, when you’ve left your house or when you’re in your house, and so on. In terms of privacy, smart thermostats collect data on temperature preferences and usage patterns and may share this information with third-party companies. Remote access to the thermostat can also raise privacy concerns if unauthorized individuals gain access.
