Connected objects are multiplying in French households, from voice-controlled light bulbs to surveillance cameras accessible via a smartphone. This expansion is accompanied by a rapidly changing European regulatory framework: the Cyber Resilience Act will require manufacturers to notify any actively exploited vulnerability in their digital products within 24 hours starting September 11, 2026.
The AI Act, in effect since February 2025, already prohibits certain uses of artificial intelligence deemed to pose unacceptable risks. Connected daily life is no longer just about choosing the right gadget; it also involves understanding what happens behind the scenes.
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Cyber Resilience Act: what the European regulation changes for your connected devices
Most buying guides overlook a crucial fact: starting December 11, 2027, a digital product will no longer be able to obtain the CE marking or be marketed in the EU if it does not comply with the Cyber Resilience Act. Cybersecurity will become a mandatory component just like electrical safety.
For consumers, this means that manufacturers will have to integrate security updates OTA (over-the-air) by default, a structured vulnerability management system, a software bill of materials (SBOM), and secure configuration from the design stage. Buying a connected object after this deadline will, in principle, offer a much stronger protection base than today.
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The penalties can reach 15 million euros or 2.5% of the manufacturer’s global revenue. This level of penalty, comparable to that of the GDPR, is already prompting brands to review their internal processes. Among the high-tech advice from Geekette and Greluche, there is a growing focus on the security of everyday devices.
While waiting for full enforcement, a useful reflex is to check whether the manufacturer of your device regularly publishes security patches and for how long they commit to doing so. A connected gadget without software support becomes a potential entry point into your home network.
Embedded artificial intelligence: understanding the limits set by the AI Act
The AI Act, the European regulation on artificial intelligence, structures AI uses into several risk levels. Since February 2025, practices considered to pose unacceptable risks are prohibited in the European Union. This particularly concerns subliminal manipulation systems, those exploiting age or disability-related vulnerabilities, social scoring by public authorities, and real-time biometric recognition in public spaces (except for regulated exceptions).
For a user of a connected speaker or smart camera, field reports vary on this point: some devices integrate local facial recognition without transmitting data, while others send streams to remote servers. The AI Act does not distinguish based on processor power but rather the final use of the system, which sometimes makes product sheet readings insufficient.
The transparency obligations set by the regulation require high-risk AI providers to document how their algorithms work. In practice, not all consumer voice assistants fall into this category, but the boundary remains blurred for some hybrid use cases (behavioral analysis, detection of domestic anomalies).
Points to check before buying a device with embedded AI
- Is data processing done locally on the device or via a remote server? Local processing reduces exposure to data leaks.
- Does the manufacturer specify the exact purpose of the embedded AI and the data it collects? A vague technical sheet on this point is a warning signal.
- Is there an option to disable automatic analysis functions without losing the basic functionalities of the device?
Securing your home network: often overlooked technical gestures
Multiplying connected objects in a household means multiplying potential access points to your Wi-Fi network. Buying guides readily list must-have gadgets, but less frequently address the network protection measures to implement before plugging them in.
Creating a separate Wi-Fi network for connected objects remains the most effective and least applied measure. Most recent internet boxes allow for configuring a second dedicated SSID. Smart devices connect to it, isolated from the main network where your banking data, emails, and work documents transit.
Another rarely discussed point is the default password for the administration interface of the box itself. Changing it upon installation prevents a compromised device on the network from accessing the router’s configuration.
Network configuration checklist for a connected home
- Enable WPA3 encryption if the box supports it, at least WPA2-AES. Older protocols (WEP, WPA-TKIP) are vulnerable to attacks known for years.
- Disable WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup), whose security flaws are documented and exploitable with accessible tools.
- Update the firmware of the box and connected devices as soon as a patch is available, without waiting for the automatic notification that doesn’t always arrive.
- Regularly check the list of devices connected to the network via the box’s administration interface to spot any unknown devices.
Home insurance and connected objects: a contractual blind spot
Standard home insurance contracts cover physical goods against theft or water damage. Available data do not allow concluding that all contracts cover damages related to a cyberattack on a connected object (hacked thermostat causing excessive energy consumption, compromised camera broadcasting private images).
Few standard contracts explicitly mention connected objects in their guarantees. Some insurers offer specific extensions, but coverage varies greatly from one contract to another. Before equipping a home with smart technology, reviewing the exclusion clauses of the home insurance contract helps avoid discovering a blind spot at the worst moment.
The question also arises for virtual goods associated with these devices: software licenses, integrated cloud subscriptions, data stored on third-party servers. However, valuing these intangible elements remains difficult to establish in the event of a claim, complicating any compensation process.
The emerging European regulatory framework, between the Cyber Resilience Act and the AI Act, will likely force a clarification of these contractual gray areas in the coming years. For now, checking the coverage of connected objects with your insurer remains an individual step that every equipped household should undertake.