In more than 30 interviews conducted by the New York Times , studies showed that abuses exploited the technology to watch and listen, scare their targets or show power. Such acts went on even after the abusive partners had left the house because they could use their smartphones to remotely control the devices back at home.Reports of thermostats suddenly kicking up to 100 degrees Celsius or sudden blasts of music are becoming a common trend.The biggest victims of these abuses are women as the interviews conducted by the New York Times revealed. This is aggravated by the fact that men, in most homes, usually take the responsibility of installing these devices thereby having (sole) access to the admin passwords.Technology companies that make these devices are caught in a dilemma of making complex devices that cannot be exploited by hackers but not easily understood by users or making simple devices whose workings can be grasped by users but can easily be broken into by thieves and black hat hackers.The fact that the technology is new has not helped with the situation either. There are no known groups, as it currently stands, that monitor the use and abuse of smart home devices.Victims of these abuses can fight back by being informed about the specifics of these smart home devices and how they work. The legal loopholes also need to be sealed to allow victims to seek legal redress when such events occur.