'); //]]>//--> By Richard Adhikari Nov 20, 2020 5:00 AM PT The use of smart and connected devices promises to make our lives easier, but it might also give their manufacturers greater control over our lives. One out of three households in the United States with broadband connections owns at least one smart home device, and interactive security systems that allow remote connection and control capabilities are installed in 20 percent of these households, research firm Park Associates reports. Some companies offering smart devices, including Google, Belkin, and Best Buy have killed off their smart device product lines without warning, leaving consumers in the lurch.