Smartlock company Loqed is considering subscription for cloud functions – Image and sound – News

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

For the happy 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 doing that with every device is not optimal either. Depending on the nature of the smart home devices, you also do not want them to be able to reach each other.

Also with access via VPN, or it is not optimal. At least you have the outside door closed, but inside the house is still a gaping hole.

All in all, IP-based ‘smart equipment’ is simply not a good idea. With some devices you cannot avoid it, in a practical sense, of course, but there is no reason for a ‘smart’ lock/washing machine/lamp/oven/air purifier/etc) to be IP-based. 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 have one device (your smart home hub) connected to the internet if you want to do something from the internet.

Devices that have to process a lot of data obviously cannot be processed via the above-mentioned protocols (think of webcams, media streamers, etc.).