The TÜV Association draws attention to the advantages of smart heating controls. These can be operated via app from a smartphone and learn from user behavior. For example, the smart heating controls can remember when and to how many degrees the occupants want certain rooms heated. In addition, the thermostats have a so-called window open detection and automatically switch down when airing.
All this means that smart heating controls heat apartments and houses as effectively as possible and ultimately lead to lower energy bills, according to the TÜV association. However, according to a survey commissioned by the association from the market research institute Forsa, only 11 percent of the total of 1,005 respondents aged 16 and over use smart heating controls in their homes. TÜV sees the reason for this in the fact that the respondents doubt the safety of smart products. Thirty-nine percent said they would not buy smart products because they were worried about cyber attacks.
The TÜV association also advises protecting smart products from cyberattacks and offers five tips. First: Consumers should assign passwords with at least ten characters, including upper- and lowercase letters, characters and special characters. Second: Consumers should rely on secure encryption such as WPA3 encryption. Third: If the smart products are used via smartphone, users should check the extent to which they can access other apps and only release necessary rights. Fourth: The software should be kept up to date to close security gaps. Fifth: When buying devices, users should look for test certificates for the IT security of the device. For example, there is the TÜV Cybersecurity Certified (CSC) test mark.
Source: TÜV Association
© Photodune
