Safety

Cyber attacks: one in three households in Italy is at risk. The damage can amount to as much as 10,000 euros per household

Consumers’ Forum sounds the alarm: there are over 100 million connected devices in Italian homes

by Rome Editorial Staff

14 November 2026

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3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

Key points

Homes are increasingly becoming digital ecosystems
Over 100 million connected devices in Italian homes
The alarm
The risks
The cost to a family of a cyberattack

3' min read

Translated by AI

Versione italiana

In Italia, one in three homes is potentially at risk of a cyberattack, with losses that, in the event of unauthorised access, can reach 10,000 euros per household. The warning comes from the Consumers’ Forum, a body comprising consumer organisations, industrial and service companies, and their trade associations. With regard to the security of digital devices, it is pointed out that new obligations for manufacturers, introduced by the ‘Cyber Resilience Act’, will only come into force in December 2027.

Homes are increasingly becoming digital ecosystems

With the proliferation of smartphones, computers, smart TVs, cameras, alarm systems and internet-connected household appliances, homes are being transformed into veritable digital ecosystems – increasingly interconnected and potentially vulnerable to attacks by hackers and criminal organisations. This transformation also reflects the evolution of consumer habits, which are now increasingly ‘hybrid’: technological devices are no longer mere tools, but integral parts of daily life, through which people manage their homes, make purchases, take consumer decisions and make choices that affect their personal and family lives.

Over 100 million connected devices in Italian homes

Just consider that the number of digital devices in Italian homes stands at 100.1 million: the total number of household devices includes around 50.3 million smartphones, 20.2 million desktop and laptop computers, 22.2 million Smart TVs and 7.4 million tablets. Added to this is the growing number of devices that strictly fall into the ‘Smart Home’ category: burglar and intrusion alarm systems, surveillance cameras, connected household appliances, smart fridges and washing machines, boilers, thermostats, thermostatic valves, air-conditioning units, lighting systems, sensors for detecting water and gas leaks, and voice assistants such as smart speakers

The uptake of these technologies is accelerating rapidly. According to the Eumetra Observatory, in 2017 only 4 per cent of households had smart home devices or smart speakers connected to their household appliances. By 2026, this figure had risen to 33 per cent: in other words, one in three households now has technology for the smart management of their home.

The Milan Polytechnic Observatory also confirms the growth of this trend: in 2025, 63 per cent of Italian consumers owned at least one smart home device, taking the value of the Italian market in this sector to a record one billion euros, an increase of 11 per cent compared with the previous year.

The alarm

However, the growing number of connected devices is multiplying the potential vulnerabilities of home networks – warns the Consumers’ Forum - An inadequately secured router, a camera with a default password, a household appliance with out-of-date software or a CCTV system can all become entry points for cybercriminals. The consequences can be particularly serious for families’ privacy and security.

The risks

The main risks include not only breaches of privacy, but also the theft of personal data for financial fraud, extortion or ransomware, the tampering with smart locks, alarm systems, air-conditioning and other remotely controllable devices; but above all, the danger lies in the unlawful use of these devices, which can become tools for launching further cyber-attacks against other users and public or private infrastructure.

The cost to a family of a cyberattack

The compromise of a household device can result in financial loss that goes far beyond the cost of repairing or replacing the appliance – warns the Consumers’ Forum - A household may be forced to incur costs of up to 1,500 euros for network restoration, specialist technical support, the replacement of compromised devices, and account recovery, with losses potentially reaching €10,000 or more in cases of financial theft, digital identity theft, extortion or the loss of personal data, all of which can have significant financial consequences.

“Consumers are becoming increasingly hybrid, and so their homes and lifestyles will be increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence – a change that must be accompanied by ever-faster adjustments to the regulatory framework, so that the rules can keep pace with the rapid evolution of technology and the new risks that arise from it – says Furio Truzzi, President of the Consumers’ Forum. – Homes equipped with smart devices must not become vulnerable environments: we need to strengthen security safeguards and consumer protection measures, ensuring that technological innovation and protection go hand in hand.” These are the issues that will be at the heart of the conference ‘The Hybrid Consumer: Infrastructure, Regulation, Technologies’, organised by the Consumers’ Forum in collaboration with the European Parliament (ufficio in Italia) on 18 November in Rome. The event will feature contributions from ARERA, the Data Protection Authority, ART, ANAC, AGCM, AGCOM, CONSOB, IVASS and the Bank of Italia.

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