With smart devices monitoring your precious home space, That’s clever. They’re here to ask about hacks and security vulnerabilities. Security cameras have had their share of disasters in the past: ADT employees spied on customers’ cameras for years before the company fixed the problem, and there was also a Wyze video glitch that allowed people to watch strangers’ home videos.
The good news is that home security hacks are very rare and are usually perpetrated by people you already know, but there are some tips you should follow to protect against remote connections and snooping by untrusted people who may gain access.
The last generation Arlo Essential Indoor camera is a great baby monitor camera in every respect.
1. Don’t buy counterfeit or used cameras
When choosing a security camera, quality is more important than how good the deal is. Avoid buying from no-name brands, products that are obviously knock-offs of the real thing, and electronics companies on the official US banned list (e.g. Huawei, ZTE, etc.).
A similar, and frustratingly common, problem is buying a used camera on eBay, Craigslist, or other listings. There’s no telling what software may be left on the camera, even if someone promises to wipe it. This is one of the few ways an aspiring cybercriminal can get into a random home, so stay away from used models.
2. Look for companies that use end-to-end encryption
End-to-end encryption means that data from your device is encrypted before it’s sent anywhere. Even if that data is intercepted via a Wi-Fi hack or stolen online, thieves won’t be able to understand it, watch videos, or use it for other purposes. It also makes it harder for them to identify and control devices like cameras. Plus, companies keep the data encrypted on their servers until you or another authorized entity accesses it, so random employees can’t snoop on it.
Companies like Ring and Arlo give you the option to enable full end-to-end encryption, which is always a good idea. Companies like Arlo and Nest have partial end-to-end encryption but still decrypt the data at certain points for analytics or other purposes, which is good, but not very robust.
Some cameras keep their video storage completely offline for added security, but remain connected to the internet.
3. Look for brands with a good track record in data security
CNET strives to keep you up to date when companies suffer data breaches, change security policies (for better or worse), or find unexpected security vulnerabilities in their devices. But before buying a product from a security brand, it’s also a good idea to do your own research on the brand to see if they’ve had any recent vulnerabilities or employee-initiated data breaches. If a company has had multiple or very recent security issues, you’re probably better off looking for another option. Note that brands like Lorex reduce video tampering by keeping video data completely off the cloud and analyzing it only using on-board algorithms.
4. Manage your Wi-Fi and app passwords
If cybercriminals can access a vulnerable home Wi-Fi system, they will likely find and attempt to use many of your connected devices, including security cameras. Strong router security is your first line of defense against these problems. Choose strong passwords for your Wi-Fi and camera apps, enable Wi-Fi encryption, and turn on an acceptable firewall. For even more protection, consider enabling a VPN and creating a guest network.
Finally, whenever you go through a big change in your life, like moving or breaking up, it’s a good idea to change your passwords too.
Basic security, such as strong password protection, is also a great idea for your camera.
5. Keep your camera and hub up to date with the latest patches
Turn on automatic updates if available and check your phone or tablet to make sure your security camera app always has updates. Log in to the camera app regularly so you can search for updates when needed. These updates not only fix bugs and add features, but also patch security vulnerabilities and improve overall security.
6. Enable 2FA (two-factor authentication) where possible
If your security camera uses two-factor authentication for logging in, enable it so that logging in requires authentication from another channel, such as text, email, or facial recognition. This makes it harder for strangers or people far away to log into your camera app.
Nest’s indoor cameras rely on cloud storage, but the company has a very good track record when it comes to security.
How dangerous is it to install home security cameras?
It’s not dangerous at all. Encryption practices and security measures are better than ever, and it’s unlikely that a random cybercriminal would want to hack into a security camera. It’s a waste of time compared to other purposes. The risk of a data leak is much higher if the camera company itself is attacked, but this still happens from time to time, like when hackers stole the addresses of ADT customers in the summer of 2024. However, many cameras offer local storage and other measures to store as much information as possible offline, and indoor cameras often have lens covers for added protection. You can find more details in our guide to subscription-free cameras.
What kind of person would want to hack a security camera?
Not many. Usually it’s either an angry ex-spouse or family member who already has access to your security camera logins, or a perverted monitoring center employee who eventually gets caught (new encryption techniques help prevent the latter). Sometimes the neighborhood kid can exploit your lousy wireless security controls to get away with it. But cybercriminals aren’t interested in spying through your camera, and thieves just hide theirs.
Are there any signs that my security cameras have been hacked?
If your camera has an LED indicator light, you can check if the indicator lights up unexpectedly, or if you use video storage, you can search the app for any unexpected video captures. When others have access to security cameras, they often try to manipulate the two-way audio to scare or confuse the owner.
If you want to learn more about home security cameras, check out where not to put cameras, how to properly install cameras, and which are the best wireless cameras overall.
