The Dangers of IP-Based Smart Devices: Protecting Your Home Network

Of course opening a gate is not what you should want. Then your ‘smart device’ can be accessed directly from the internet. A software bug and the device is included in a botnet or springboard to your network.

For those who are happy with the few who know what they are doing (or at least think/have the illusion that they know what they are doing), they could start working with vlans/firewalls/etc. But it’s not best to do that with every tool. By the nature of smart home devices, you also don’t want them to be able to reach each other.

Also with access via VPN, or it is not the best. At least the outer door is closed, but the inside of the house is still a hole.

All in all, an IP based ‘smart device’ is not a good idea. With some devices you can’t avoid it, in a practical way, of course, but there is no reason for a ‘smart’ lock / washing machine / lamp / oven / air purifier / etc.) to be based on IP . Just everything via Zigbee/z-wave/thread.
Of course, these protocols are not always 100% waterproof, but then you have to be close to each one. You only need one device (your smart home hub) connected to the Internet if you want to do something from the Internet.

Devices that need to process a lot of data through the above protocols obviously cannot (think of webcams, media streams, etc.).