Computer scientists at William & Mary say burglars could potentially break into houses through smart home devices.
Those are the products that are connected to the internet and allow people to turn up their thermostat or turn on a sprinkler through apps on their phone.
W&M said in a statement last week that professors and students tested the security of several products and security systems and discovered significant vulnerabilities.
The researchers said hackers can compromise some systems through low-security products like the controls for a sprinkler. From there, burglars could access alarms and cameras and turn them off during a burglary.
They said part of the problem is the use of a centralized system that allows various apps and devices to communicate with each other.
