A new Kaspersky survey exploring the use of smart home devices and attitudes toward their security revealed more than half of global consumers (56%) who own this equipment feel responsible for its cybersecurity. The number was higher in the U.S., where 64% said they take responsibility. Users aged 25-34 care most about the protection of smart devices in their home, with 54 percent securing the devices they own, according to the survey.

The global smart home industry shows rapid consumer growth, building expectations with market analysts, with some segments such as smart security systems and smart locks expected to more than double to $106.3 billion and $13.1 billion by 2030, respectively. The new Kaspersky report examines how increasing use of smart devices affects users' attitude toward security and protection issues.

The willingness to accept responsibility for the protection of smart gadgets at home appears to be tied to users' fears of being hacked. The survey shows the proportion of users concerned or very concerned, for example, about their internet-connected camera system being used to spy on them was 56 percent.

The biggest concerns were raised about security of home monitoring systems, internet-connected cameras and smart doors and locks, with about a third of users admitting to being very concerned about their security and protection. An additional 53 percent were either "concerned" or "somewhat concerned."

The list of worrisome gadgets includes internet-connected cameras for monitoring babies and pets and smart doors and locks, with 31 percent and 30 percent saying their security is a "very concerning issue" in their opinion.

Among the devices that cause users least trouble are smart cleaning devices such as vacuum cleaners connected to the internet, with 35 percent saying their security doesn't concern them at all. The same went for climate control systems (32%) and smart lighting (34%).

"As smart device adoption rates grow, we see users are paying more attention to security considerations and are trying to ensure a painless experience as they build long-term relationships with their gadgets," said Marina Titova, vice president, consumer product marketing at Kaspersky. "It looks like good digital habits are more inherent in millennials, which is a positive sign for cybersecurity. This also suggests that in future, we might see IoT device producers and internet service providers supporting their work by paying more attention to cybersecurity, possibly integrating cybersecurity features to their offering, to meet consumers' expectations and provide them with a desired level of protection."

The full report is available at this link.