We’ve got more technology than ever before — there are apps to help us accomplish everything from cleaning our homes and compiling a grocery list to monitoring our belongings from afar. And when it comes to smart home tech, it seems as if nearly everything is now automated.

But with this influx of technology comes a whole new breed of criminal — hackers and tech-savvy “bad guys” pose threats to security, for both physical and virtual intrusions of your home.

“It used to be that firewalls were a much better means of security,” says Jerry Irvine, a member of the National Cyber Security Task Force, a joint task force between the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and Homeland Security. “Today, because we want to connect to things on the other side of the firewall, you have to open up ports — which is the [equivalent to] Swiss cheese. It’s like taking a section out of the fence around your house so you can get in — anyone else can get in that way, too.”

And on the other hand, improved tech makes it easier than ever for us to monitor, protect and automate our homes — so what’s the final verdict? Is all of this technology making us (actually) safer? We compiled a list of the pros and cons of a smart tech-connected home below, as well as a list of expert suggestions for making your smart home as secure as possible.

The downside of a tech-connected world (and home)

Here’s a look at some of the risks to home security that are worth considering in today’s digital world.

High-tech is highly enticing to criminals: Your top-of-the line 78″ flatscreen and surround-sound system is a pride point whenever the neighbors come over on game day — but they’re also enticing items for thieves and criminals when you’re on the go. As anyone who has ever had their iPhone stolen can attest, the latest and greatest gadgets tend to attract a number of scams and thefts — and criminals are getting creative in their efforts to get their hands on your tech. In addition, from a software perspective, the more smart devices in your home, the more opportunity for criminals to infiltrate your network and learn about your habits or steal your information.

Criminals are using technology themselves: Criminals are becoming more tech-savvy, too. And security bugs like Heartbleed and high-profile hacks like the Target and Home Depot incidents from this past year aren’t exactly confidence-inspiring. (In the case of the Target breach, evidence suggests that the entry-point for the attack actually occurred though a third-party heating and air conditioning vendor.) There are even cases where criminals use your technology against you: Cars can be broken into and GPS units stolen, giving criminals crucial information about your work and travel habits — not to mention your home address.

And that urban legend about your computer’s built-in camera being used to spy on you and your home? Not such a myth, says Irvine. These types of hacks are possible — and even probable — if consumers don’t take the proper security measures to ensure their devices and home networks are secure.

Manufacturers often value convenience over safety: PLCs — programmable logic controllers — and SCADA systems, the little computerized chips that allow for reporting and remote control in devices, have been around since the ’50s; but now, they’re being placed in devices like your fridge or smart TV. “All of these chips have very little security — they’re really just designed to allow for remote connections and provide information, but not necessarily to be secure,” says Irvine, stressing the importance of segmenting devices from your wireless network for proper control and security.

“It’s so important consumers remain vigilant and take the appropriate steps to protect their digital lives,” says Gary Davis, chief consumer security evangelist at McAfee, citing a recent HP Fortify report that found an average of 25 vulnerabilities in the most popular ‘Internet of Things‘ devices in the home.

Many consumers are ignorant to risks: Irvine points out that many smart home devices are particularly susceptible to attack if they’re simply hooked up, turned on and forgotten about, explaining that people with multiple smart home devices often don’t have any clue about the risks.

“The issue is that hackers aren’t really going in and targeting any one class or any one group of individual. They use scripts. These tools automatically look at the firewalls, then they do a port scan or a pen (penetration) test and find those open doorways in the firewall to see what’s in them. The scripts perform all these automated tasks, and go back to the hacker with that information.”

The good news

If we’ve succeeded in freaking you about, here’s the good news: There are fairly simple measures you can take to protect your technologies — and your home — from invasion.

VPN — virtual private networks — can be highly effective: “Just like Target should have separated their HVAC network from their financial network, you need to do the same thing — don’t have your home automation system on the same wireless network: Put all of your automated technologies on a separate network from your PC and devices,” Irvine says. “VPN is almost as secure as your own private network; it’s the [metaphorical] difference between having a gap in your gate, and having a guard present saying, ‘Only you can get in.'”

These private networks are particularly crucial in a world increasingly dominated by mobile. “First and foremost, consumers need to protect their mobile devices, which are the weak link and the main way that ‘Internet of Things’ devices are connected and controlled,” says Davis. “This means applying any app or OS-level update to smartphones, just as you would do with your main computer. Consumers should also PIN protect their phone, install cross-device security software and enable the lock-and-locate feature on their phones, which will protect personal data if it is lost or stolen.”

Proper diligence and research can also give you a leg up over criminals. “Before purchasing, research how a device connects to your home Internet,” Davis suggests. “Make sure it uses an ‘https’ at the beginning of its URL, which indicates that the site is using encryption to protect your information.”

Investing in a secure home monitoring system enlists experts to help keep your home safe: It’s more important than ever to ensure that your home and belongings are protected — and luckily, home monitoring and security technologies are improving along with smart home tech.

There are a number of trustworthy systems on the market that make it simple to remotely monitor your home, automate your home to create the illusion that the house is occupied and even alert authorities the second something seems amiss. As with automated technologies, Irvine points out, it’s important that your home monitoring system is set up as securely as possible — which means that you’ll want professionals to install your system. The same goes for “smart locks,” which can be programmed to virtually connect to your mobile devices. At the end of the day, the average consumer likely doesn’t understand the full scope of security risks associated with a smart home — and so leaving it to professionals is one way to ensure the safest possible set-up.

In addition, once these systems are in place — and signage that indicates so is put up around your home — you’ll have significantly decreased risks of physical incursions.

Smart tech can help with peace of mind: GPS trackers and smart home technologies can help us keep track of our belongings — and our loved ones. Not only can we more easily monitor and automate our homes, but we can also keep an eye on family members who may require assistance.

Advanced technologies make it possible to monitor elderly loved ones remotely to ensure that all is well, even if we can’t be by their side at all hours of the day. (On the other end of the spectrum, smart home tech can be useful for keeping an eye on teenagers sneaking out at night or playing hooky.) All in all, we’re better able to stay aware of the activities going on in our homes at all hours — which is reassuring for families that travel often, or that have loved ones with special needs at home.

Tech is evolving to mitigate risks: Irvine says that many tech companies are getting wise to some of the most common types of security flaws, and adjusting their products slowly but surely. “Companies are starting to understand, and are giving us more easily configured devices — for example, there are now wireless media players/speakers that, instead of using your wireless network, have built-in networks, and they do it on their own,” says Irvine, referring to the type of network separation present in a VPN.

Because there may be important security updates to your devices, it’s particularly important to keep them updated on a regular basis. “Stay up to date with the latest software updates,” says Davis. “Accept updates to the device’s firmware, as they may include important security patches.”

Password technology is improving: Enabling two-step verification and using password keepers on all your devices is another way to ensure utmost security. Consider a password system such as Dashlane or LastPass for an added layer of security assurance.

Joe Siegrist, CEO of LastPass, says that generated passwords that are unique to each device, account or online service go a long way in terms of security measures. “You should also be utilizing a generated password for security questions — the back door into accounts,” he says. “If the password the hackers obtain is specific to only one account, they won’t be able to steal information from any other sites, and the worst that will happen is having to change your password.” Siegrist adds that more devices — especially ones that are left on all the time — create more targets.

Taking the preventative measures above can help mitigate risks of both physical burglaries and virtual theft of your information and belongings in today’s increasingly tech-connected world. Ideally, enabling a mixture of both physical home security — such as a monitoring and security system — and taking precautions with your devices, networks and software can significantly decrease the chances of a break-in or theft.

What do you think? Does more technology equal a safer home? Tell us in the comments.