Securing Smart Speakers for Home Health Care: NIST Offers New Guidelines December 17, 2025

https://www.nist.gov/news-events/news/2025/12/securing-smart-speakers-home-health-care-nist-offers-new-guidelines Smart speakers are commonly used to answer questions, control thermostats and play music. Now consumers are calling on them for home health care — to talk to a provider, refill a prescription or schedule an appointment. Telehealth can benefit patients, but the threats are numerous as well: An attacker could alter a prescription, steal confidential medical data or connect the patient to an impostor. To reduce the cybersecurity risks these interactions carry, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released guidelines that can help protect patients and providers alike.