All hands on tech

It’s ironic that the movement to incorporate more technology into our homes is actually, for the most part, leading us to live a more stationary lifestyle choice. You’d think after so many months of lockdown confinement we’d all be switching off from tech, donning our hike boots and venturing the big outdoors, but the statistics speak otherwise and with over 22 billion¹ IoT (Internet of things) connected devices on the planet we all seem to be at Smart’s tech and call.

So, what does the introduction of smart tech to your home mean for you? With your smart fridge² ordering your weekly groceries and your doorbell not only admitting your visitors but also taking their temperature³ before you give the ‘facetime nod of approval’, one hypothetical question may be, ‘will you ever need to leave your sofa again?’!

Be Cyber Secure

According to government statistics, almost half (49%)⁴ of us Brits have purchased at least one Smart device since Covid made its arrival known.

It is the way that life is heading, and with so many great strides in technological development, many of us are keen to embrace the science, but before we do, Digital Infrastructure Minister, Matt Warman is keen for us to embrace the guidance from the NCSC⁵ and to instil a tech savviness, “We are changing the law to ensure shoppers know how long products are supported with vital security updates before they buy and are making devices harder to break into by banning easily guessable default passwords.”

In addition to this, it is key to remember how easily hackers can attack your personal home network. Current UK figures estimate that there were 4.4 million fraud offences in the 12 months to 30 September 2020⁶ so it’s very much a situation that cannot be ignored. You may think that your robotic vacuum cleaner won’t cause any harm but let’s not forget the case where hackers infamously stole data from an American casino via the internet-connected fish tank!⁷.

Gone phishing

With some insurers offering cyber cover along with your home insurance it will be a comfort to know that if you do get hacked, or phished⁸, protection is available. If you want to double check whether you currently have cyber protection in place or would be interested in adding it to your home insurance policy, please click here.

‘Look smart’ – what’s in fashion?

Almost half (45%) of UK homes own a Smart TV, followed by Smart speakers (32%). Smart thermostats, Smart light bulbs and Smart Wi-Fi routers also feature in the top five at 18%, 17% and 16%, respectively⁹. Surprisingly, when people were asked which devices they most coveted, Smart entertainment choices were not at the top of their list. In fact, two in five (41%) consumers claim to hanker after a smart security camera, followed by a smart doorbell at 35%¹⁰. With more of the population planning to work from home since the arrival of Covid, feeling secure in our homes has influenced the rise in demand for smart security.  

In addition to security measures, smart tech can also be used to help lower the most common risks to your home.

• Water Damage
  Frighteningly, UK insurers pay out 1.9million¹¹ everyday in escape of water claims. Smart gadgets which monitor¹² your water supply can be easily installed, helping you reduce the devastating damage that undetected leaks or burst pipes can cause.
• Fire
  How reliable is your smoke alarm? Are your batteries still working? Knowing that 38%¹³ of battery-operated smoke alarms do not sound during a fire may make you consider a smarter tech option. Smart alarms check their own batteries up to 400 times a day¹⁴ and keep you updated on its performance levels via your smartphone. And if there is a fire, it will sound the alarm whilst simultaneously telephoning you, meaning that you can react to a fire immediately whether you are at home or away.

If you would like to discuss any of the themes in this article please give our Private Client team a call. Our home insurance packages can be tailor-made to suit you and your Smart home.

1. https://www.statista.com/statistics/802690/worldwide-connected-devices-by-access-technology/
2. https://www.samsung.com/uk/refrigerators/all-refrigerators/?smart
3. https://www.techhive.com/article/3603470/ettie-video-doorbell-takes-your-temperature.html
4. https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-cyber-security-laws-to-protect-smart-devices-amid-pandemic-sales-surge
5. https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/smart-devices-in-the-home
6. https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252495844/Fraud-and-cyber-crime-still-vastly-under-reported
7. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2017/07/21/how-a-fish-tank-helped-hack-a-casino/
8. the fraudulent practice of sending emails purporting to be from reputable companies in order to induce individuals to reveal personal information, such as passwords and credit card numbers. “an email that is likely a phishing scam”
9. https://techround.co.uk/uncategorized/smart-home-tech-can-save-over-300-annually/
10. https://techround.co.uk/uncategorized/smart-home-tech-can-save-over-300-annually/
11. https://www.abi.org.uk/products-and-issues/choosing-the-right-insurance/home-insurance/burst-pipes-and-water-leaks/
12. https://www.leaksafe.com/
13. https://www.firstalert-online.co.uk/fire-safety-facts/
14. https://store.google.com/gb/product/nest_protect_2nd_gen?gclid=Cj0KCQjw7pKFBhDUARIsAFUoMDbYDuOuXuQ44tBsgEqtEV_4ePiXW7_nQRpAcUbyirpTY5SWVJG5udoaAm1QEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds&hl=en-GB