The Glass House: Why 2026 is the Year We Must Audit Our "Agents" and "Avatars"

In a crowded boardroom in 2026, the air is thick with tension as a seemingly harmless charm—clipped onto a handbag just like any other accessory—suddenly activates, projecting yesterday's confidential meeting onto the wall. Startled executives watch as their own faces appear, a stark reminder that the friendly devices they trust can turn rogue in an instant. The Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas has always been a bellwether for what employees will try to bring into the office next month. But CES 2026 marked a disturbing pivot for cybersecurity leaders. The industry has moved beyond "smart" devices to "agentic" and "affective" ones, technology that acts on our behalf and toys with our emotions.

For the SMB leader, the attack surface just shifted from the server room to the handbag and the glasses case. Given the unique challenges SMBs face, these recommendations acknowledge the constraints of limited IT and security budgets. This ensures that our advice remains practical and …