These days, you can buy a home security camera for less than $100. These devices are becoming more and more common as a way to ward off porch pirates and generally protect personal property. But what happens when the cameras that owners use for security pose a security risk to the owner?
You may have heard stories of home security cameras being hacked recently. A California family experienced a troubling incident when a hacker warned them through their Nest camera of a false North Korean missile attack on the United States. In another incident, a hacker took control of a Nest camera and told the owner’s Amazon Alexa device to begin playing Justin Bieber’s version of “Despacito” while the owner, bewildered, tried to figure out what was going on. The hacks prompted Nest to issue a statement telling customers to change their passwords.
While the most recent incidents involved Nest cameras, any device can be infiltrated by hackers. A Calgary, Alberta based group claimed they hacked into as many as ten security cameras and communicated with the people on the other ends of the feeds.
How does this happen? There are a few different ways someone can breach your home security camera. Most cameras use apps or sites online where the customer can view a live video feed of their home or communicate with the camera if the device has two-way audio. If someone has the password to your account, they have access to your camera feed, audio features, and more. Other ways you can get hacked is through your Wi-Fi network, malware attacks, or if your security camera company experiences a breach.
It sounds a bit disturbing — the thought that someone could be watching you through your security camera without your knowledge. Fortunately, there are things you can do to greatly reduce your risk of having your security camera hacked. Here are a few tips to help lower your chances.
Although company breaches do happen, home security camera hacks are often the result of poor management on the part of the user. One of the biggest things you can do to prevent home security camera hacks is to educate yourself about malware, password security, and Wi-Fi network security. And for the love of God, change your password. Frequently.
It might be tempting to buy a $10 security camera from an auction site, or to buy a cheap used security camera. But, this isn’t necessarily the best idea. Buy a new camera from a well-known retailer.
Even when you’re buying a new product, make sure you’re familiar with the company that will be managing the corresponding application for your camera. Check out reviews for the app, see if the company has had a serious problem with security breaches in the past, and if so, what they’ve done to correct that problem.
Don’t think of a security camera as a one-and-done transaction where you buy the camera, and then your transaction is complete. Think of it like a cell phone, where the service provider matters just as much as the device.
Don’t ignore those firmware updates, as they are designed to fix problems. Some of the problems the update is designed to fix may very well be related to security.
Don’t know if there’s a firmware update available? Check the camera’s app, and look under sections like “device,” “settings,” or “about” to see if a firmware update is available. Most camera manufacturers will also tell you information about the most recent firmware update on their website, as well as how to install it.
And did we say change your password? Change your password.
Few things ruin a quiet evening faster than a robot vacuum roaring through the living room. Most of us end up pausing the cleaning run, which defeats the whole purpose of owning one. Matic thinks it has the answer with its new Serene robot vacuum, and the big selling point is how little noise it makes.
The Matic Serene runs at 52 decibels even when cleaning at full power. To put that in perspective, Matic compares it to the hum of your refrigerator. It is available now for $1,695, which is $200 more than the original Matic’s current price.
Outdoor security cameras are not always practical if you live in an apartment or rental. Drilling into an exterior wall may be off-limits, while pointing a regular indoor camera through a window can create another problem once reflections start showing up after dark.
Baseus is trying to solve both issues with the new PrimeSentinel W1, a $69.99 security camera designed specifically to monitor the outdoors through glass. It mounts directly to a window without drilling and uses a 4K Starlight sensor with an F1.0 aperture for full-color monitoring during the day and at night.
This post is brought to you in paid partnership with Best Buy.
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