Consumers Comfortable Setting Up Smart Home Devices, Wary of Security Risks, Parks Says

Some 84 percent of U.S. broadband households take the do-it-yourself route for setting up entertainment and computing devices, and six in 10 set up smart home devices on their own, a report from Parks Associates said. But consumers’ need for tech support persists and will grow as they bring more connected devices into the home, Parks said. Just over a quarter of U.S. homes owned a connected health device by the end of last year, it said. Despite the comfort with using and installing smart devices, 60 percent of U.S. broadband households have concerns over device and data security when using them, Parks said. Tech support is a key factor in ensuring a positive user experience in the IoT, monitoring devices for proper operation and protecting the connected home from online attacks, it said. "Consumers appreciate the convenience and control that comes with increased connectivity, but they are aware of the potential risks," analyst Patrice Samuels said. "High-profile media reports, such as the reported possibility that Samsung TVs with voice recognition could capture users' personal information, only heighten their concerns.” Manufacturers and security providers must design security into smart products and communicate directly with consumers about their “ongoing efforts to combat security risks,” she said.