Urgent warning issued to anyone who received a 'smart' device over Christmas

Millions of people will have received a present this holiday season that could leave their household exposed to online criminals, a top cyber intelligence agency has warned.

From fridges to photo frames and speakers like the Amazon Echo, more devices than ever come with 'smart' features included that require an internet connection.

While this can bring whole new functions to our gadgets, it can leave others devices using your home network vulnerable.

Intelligence agents working at the UK's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), a global authority on emerging online threats from hackers and state actors, have warned that many devices with smart functionality can be exploited by cyber criminals to log in to your network remotely.

These smart devices are now facing up to 30 cyber attacks every day, according to a BitDefender report. But the NCSC has issued simple guidance on how to tighten your home's virtual security and lock down your smart devices.

Smart devices let you to stay connected even when you're raiding the fridge (Michele Tantussi/Getty Images)

Going through the rigamarole of setting up various devices over the Christmas period can become something of a chore, but taking the time to make sure you set-up the right security protocols is key.

Britain's cyber spies advise setting up a two-step verification on any new devices or apps to prevent yourself from becoming an easy target for hackers, as this adds an extra layer of protection and could provide you with a warning that someone is trying to access your network - even if they have your password.

Jonathon Ellison, NCSC resilience director, advised: “As you set up a smart device you received this Christmas, make sure it’s wrapped up in the essential security layers."

The agency also advised setting up passwords with three random words, like DogBandanaCabbage, to prevent criminals from stealing your details with a 'brute-force attack', where they run a script to try millions of passwords and guess your information through trial and error.

While these tips can prevent a hacker from accessing your home network, the FBI has separately warned that downloading the wrong apps onto a smart device can allow criminals to bypass your security.

Using an additional security layer can help keep your home network secure (Getty Stock Images)

In June, they warned that a number of smart devices running Android software had been 'compromised with backdoor malware', after the discovery of a botnet named BADBOX 2.0 that had been pre-installed onto a number of cheap internet-connected devices.

This system-wide virus connects to all of your internet devices and allows them to be used as 'zombies', devices used as and when a hacker wants to carry out a large-scale attack cyber crime.

The FBI said that devices with suspicious marketplaces, or that require Google Play settings to be disabled, could be infected with this botnet, with 'free streaming' sticks that allow access to premium TV content one of the main sources of network exploitation.

To make sure that your network is secure, the FBI advised monitoring your internet traffic for suspicious activity, echoing NCSC advice to keep your gadgets' software up-to-date as these system updates will contain new security protocols for your devices.

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