Bigger companies can also quickly fix security holes that crop up.(Source).With the right tools, you can check remotely whether you remembered to lock the doors — and lock them if you forgot.If it&China silicone rubber39;s Amazon, then devices powered by its Alexa digital assistant might work best. Many devices are constantly listening for commands and connect to corporate servers to carry them out. These voice snippets may include music or conversations in the background. Smart speakers, for instance, typically have a mute button to disable the microphone completely.Many people start thinking about a smart home when they get a voice-activated speaker such as Amazon's Echo or Google Home, although such gadgets aren't strictly necessary. Not everyone is going to be comfortable with live microphones in their homes (though your phone may already be doing the same thing, if you had enabled assistive features such as "Hey Siri" and "OK Google"). But before you succumb to the temptation — for yourself or others — consider that these devices might also give companies and hackers a key to your homes. Major remodels also offer an opportunity to make bigger smart-home plans. You probably wouldn't want to get new window shades now only to replace them with smart ones a year later.

Gadgets from startups and no-name brands may offer little or no protection; those companies may be more concerned with rushing a product to market. You can command an Alexa microwave oven to "reheat one potato" instead of having to look up how many seconds. It'll also reorder popcorn with a command — from Amazon, of course.If you catch the smart-home bug, you can add appliances with the smarts already built in as you replace your existing ones.You might have heard of lights that turn off with an app or voice command. The packages are good for those who prefer one-stop shopping, though you might save money and get more choices by shopping around. But an Amazon device mistakenly recorded and sent a family's private conversation to an acquaintance after the device mistakenly thought it heard the trigger word followed by a "send message" request. But in most cases, you have to pay only for the product.Manufacturers, for instance, typically store the voice commands their gadget send over the internet and use that data to help them personalise their services — and, potentially, advertisements. Some systems can also create temporary digital keys for guests and contractors. Down the line, you may want to mix and match these tasks into routines, such as a wake-up ritual that automatically starts the coffee maker, lifts # the window shades and plays the news. Some products will work with more than one digital assistant.A smart home can encompass features as simple as remote-controlled lamps and as sophisticated as thermostats that know when you're home and turn up the heat automatically. Reputable brands let you review and delete your voice history; be sure to do so regularly. There's a range of Alexa products, including refrigerators and washing machines.There are some concerns to keep in mind. Mozilla's Privacy Not Included project seeks to warn consumers about products with security or privacy problems.

For the most part, recordings will leave home only when you trigger the device, such as by speaking a command phrase like "OK Google" or pressing a button to get the device's attention. If you rent, a landlord might suspect an unauthorised occupant if you create a guest key that's used daily.For the do-it-yourself approach, consider which company's services you're already using heavily.In general, it helps to stick with major brands, as their corporate reputations are at stake if they're caught taking shortcuts.Likewise, if you're a heavy Google user, choose devices that support Google's Assistant.

In a child-custody dispute, for instance, your ex might subpoena the records to learn that you've been staying out late on school nights.Check what safeguards a device offers before buying. Nor do you even need actual smart lights and appliances, as you can buy smart plugs, adapters that control existing lights or whatever you plug into them.Some devices, especially cameras, come with extra fees for extended storage and other features.Even if a product works as intended, it may be leaving a record that can resurface after hacks, lawsuits or investigations.And think twice about smart locks and their digital keys.Here's how to get started on your smart home and what to worry about along the way. A general web search also might turn up complaints.Technology companies are pushing the "smart home" hard, selling appliances and gadgets that offer internet-connected conveniences you didn't know you needed. So consider the trade-offs.As cable and internet services become commodities, the companies behind them are turning to smart homes for new sources of revenue. Apple has products under the umbrella of HomeKit, while Samsung has SmartThings. Or window shades that magically rise every morning.Bigger companies, however, are also more likely to use your data for marketing. AT&T's Digital Life and Comcast's Xfinity Home offer cameras, door controls and other smart-home devices