Nest beefs up security with two-factor authentication
Smart thermostat Nest is about to get a lot more secure.
The company just added an important security feature that you should enable if you care about keeping your IoT-enabled home safe: two-factor authentication.
The feature works just like it does anywhere else -- you've likely seen it on services such as Gmail or PayPal. It adds an additional layer of security on top of your password by requesting a verification code at login. Since this code is sent to your phone when needed, it means an unauthorized user can't log in even if he has the password.
To enable the feature, open your Nest app, tap the menu icon on the top left, choose Account Security, and then activate “2-step verification.”
The feature will work with all Nest devices, be it smart Nest thermostats, Nest Protect smoke alarms or Nest Cam security cameras.
It's a simple feature, but a crucial one amidst reports that many IoT devices are painfully insecure.
Nest, which has been owned by Google since February 2014, has a solid security track record but isn't immune to security-related issues. In February 2016, the company admitted that its Nest thermostat has been leaking user data, including their zip codes, but the bug was promptly fixed.
Stan is a Senior Editor at Mashable, where he has worked since 2007. He's got more battery-powered gadgets and band t-shirts than you. He writes about the next groundbreaking thing. Typically, this is a phone, a coin, or a car. His ultimate goal is to know something about everything.
