Smart Homes are gaining popularity. They're often controlled by apps from a smartphone. But what if someone hacks the server, or the software can't be updated?

An estimated 15 billion euros will be spent on home automation worldwide during 2016. But many users fail to consider that devices can become useless if the manufacturer is bought out. The intelligent technology is usually networked through the Cloud. Hackers could steal personal data or even take control of a so-called Smart Home. IT security experts explain some ways users can protect themselves.