The main purpose of a home security camera is to protect your home and family from criminal threats. However, what if there was a criminal or stranger using your very own security camera to spy on you? Over the past few years, there have been multiple incidents in which people have gained access to home cameras without permission. Take the latest incident involving Nest for instance.
Nest Security Camera Bug
On June 19th, it was reported by Wirecutter that Nest had a security flaw involving their used cameras. The previous owners of Nest security camera devices, the ones that were connected to Works with Nest, had the ability to access the current video feed. This was possible even for those who had deregistered their devices from the account.
In response to this issue coming to light, Google had the following response:
“We were recently made aware of an issue affecting some Nest cameras connected to third-party partner services via Works with Nest. We’ve since rolled out a fix for this issue that will update automatically, so if you own a Nest camera, there’s no need to take any action.”
Along with this fix, Works with Nest is being shut down in the coming months.
This Isn’t The First Time Something Like This Has Happened
Nest isn’t the only home security company with issues. Another large camera company, Ring, also had problems regarding people accessing users’ video feeds. Back in January of 2019, it was reported that Amazon had given Ukraine researchers access to their S3 cloud storage that stored Ring feeds. According to Ring, the feeds were not live, but speculation says differently.
In what way did Amazon think this was a good idea? For starters, Amazon didn’t inform its current users their feeds were being used for research. Secondly, they never gained their users’ consent. Even though it was for research purposes, Amazon went about this the wrong way.
So, Can You Trust Your Home Security Camera?
As consumers, we would like to put our trust in technology companies like Nest and Ring to secure our data and privacy. However, technology isn’t perfect, including the people who create it. One bug or code vulnerability could lead to a full blown issue for the company and its customers.
Now, this shouldn’t deter you from purchasing a home security camera or any other high-tech gadget. We’re only trying to make you aware of the potential risks using this technology may have, to both you and your family.
What Can You Do To Secure Your Security Camera
You can’t always put your trust in companies to keep your home security camera secure. For the future, it’s important to know the proactive measures you can take yourself.
– Use A Strong Password For Your Account
Just like what you would do with your email, social media, and banking accounts. You should use a strong password to help keep your security cam account impenetrable. Absolutely DON’T use the default username and password the company provided you. A great password should not be guessable, and contain a random combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
– Keep Your Camera Updated
When a new update comes out for your device, make sure you update it. These updates are not always about giving you new features. They are often used to repair possible issues involving the device.
– Limit Who Has Access To Your Device
The fewer number of people who can access your camera’s account, the better. If you are a parent, keep access to only you and your partner. That way, you know your account is in trusted hands.
– Stay Up-To-Date On Your Device’s Security Features
Home security camera features and settings constantly change over time. The likelihood of the device you bought back in 2016 having added security features is very high. Often, the company will announce any major changes by emailing you or publishing it on their website.
So whether you have a Nest security camera or another brand, be aware of your device security options. It could make all the difference regarding your family’s safety.