How to plan your smart home – and weigh privacy risks

Many people start thinking about a smart home when they get a voice-activated speaker such as Amazon

You might have heard of lights that turn off with an app or voice command. Or window shades that magically rise every morning.

Technology companies are pushing the “smart home” hard, selling appliances and gadgets that offer Internet-connected conveniences you didn’t know you needed. But before you succumb to the temptation – for yourself or others – consider that these devices might also give companies and hackers a key to your homes.