The Internet of Things has become a buzzword that you’ve probably seen in the news over the past few years. As more and more people buy smartwatches, autopilot cars, smart TVs, game consoles or even smart refrigerators, the Internet of Things is growing in breadth and depth, with billion electronic devices online at any time.

These rapid technological developments are enough to make your head spin as a consumer. IoT Secure demystifies the Internet of Things and the most common electronic devices and networks associated with it.

You can now buy virtually any device with “smart technology”, usually some type of small transmitter, ranging from an RFID tag to smartphones and tablets linked to cellular networks. The communications of these devices range from a simple ping verifying location to a full user interface with built-in GPS, like a smartwatch. Their defining characteristic is that they can not only communicate with each other, but also transmit data to a central hub like a company or manufacturer. Then there are devices designed for constant interaction with humans. For example, a smartwatch that not only records your exercise heart rate and calories burned, but also the number of hours slept.

Read on to find answers to some of the most common questions about IoT devices. We’ll demystify the technology and introduce some of the risks you may have heard of by connecting your Alexa thermostat or home thermostat to the internet.