Tips of wearing smart watches
Is a smartwatch on your Christmas list this year? From smartwatches to fitness and health trackers, it seems like nearly everyone is rocking some sort of wearable technology these days. This year alone the wearables market was projected to generate nearly $4 billion. But as with any connected device, smartwatches and the like can be hacked.
Research the Smartwatch Security Features Before You Purchase
If you’ve yet to purchase a smartwatch but are in the market for one, don’t just let style or price guide your purchase: be sure to look into the security features the smartwatch offers before purchasing. Whatever you do, don’t just go with the cheapest option.
Set Up the Security Features Before You Start Wearing It
It’s important to note that the smartwatch security features are not set up on your device right out of the box.
Set a PIN: Set up a short PIN that you can type to unlock the watch.
Create a pattern lock: Create a pattern that you can draw on your screen to unlock it.
Use your phone: Have your watch lock if it’s too far from your phone to “pair.”
Detect your wrist: Set your watch to lock when you take it off your wrist.
Some smartwatches, like Apple’s Activation Lock, prevents your Apple watch from being paired with an unapproved device. If your smartwatch offers this feature, enable it. Likewise, some wearable devices offer remote erase features, which means if the device were to be lost or stolen, you could remotely delete the data and disconnect the device from your phone.
Be Careful About the Apps You Download
Be sure to safeguard your smartphone, since one of the vulnerabilities is the communication link between your smartwatch and smartphone. Be careful about which apps are installed on your phone by researching their credibility and only downloading apps sold in the Google Play Store or ioS App Store.
Update Your Smartwatch Software
While it’s annoying to keep track of the updates, it’s worth it. Those updates oftentimes fix dangerous security flaws.