Security cameras are meant to make us feel safer, but cam hacking can strip us of our privacy instead.
When smart devices keep watch on your valuable home spaces, it’s smart of you to ask about their hacking and security vulnerabilities. Security cameras have run into disasters in the past, like an ADT employee who spied through customer cams for years before ADT resolved the issue, or Wyze’s video glitch that let strangers see other people’s home videos.

Some users have discovered this the hard way: One person with a cheap home security camera discovered that their data was being routed to multiple IPs overseas before taking control of their network again. Fortunately, home security hacking is very rare and usually caused by someone you already know. But to protect against remote connections or snooping from untrustworthy people who could gain access, there are several tips you need to follow.

• Don’t buy knockoff camera models or used cameras

It doesn’t matter how good the deals are, quality matters more when choosing a security camera. Avoid buying from unknown brands, purchasing products that are clearly knockoffs of the real deal.

A similar and frustratingly common problem is buying used cameras on eBay, Craigslist or other listings. You don’t know what software is still on that camera, no matter who promises it’s wiped. This is one of the only ways an enterprising cybercriminal can gain access to random homes, so stay away from used models.

• Look for companies that practice end-to-end encryption

End-to-end encryption simply means that data from your device is encrypted before it goes anywhere. If that data gets intercepted via Wi-Fi hacking, or if it’s stolen online, thieves won’t be able to make sense of it, see video in it or use it for anything. That also makes it harder to identify and take control of any devices like cameras. Additionally, it means companies keep the data encrypted on their servers until you or another authorized entity access it, so random employees can’t snoop through it.

Companies like Ring and Arlo offer 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 decrypt the data at certain points for analysis and other purposes, which is good but not quite as robust.  

• Search for brands that have good data security track records

It’s a good idea to check on any security brands yourself before you buy from them, to see if there has been any recent vulnerability found or data breach by employees, etc. If a company has repeated or very recent security issues, you should probably find a different option. Note that some brands like Lorex keep video data off the cloud entirely and only analyze with onboard algorithms to help cut down video tampering.

• Practice good password management for Wi-Fi and apps

If a cybercriminal can gain access to a weak home Wi-Fi system, they can often find and try to use many connected devices, including security cameras. Strong router security is the first line of defense against any of these problems. Choose strong passwords for your Wi-Fi and your camera app, enable Wi-Fi encryption and turn on any firewalls that you can live with. Consider enabling a VPN and creating a guest network for further protection.

• Always update your camera and hub with the latest patches

Turn on automatic updates if available and check your phone or tablet to make sure updates always go through to your security camera app. Regularly log into your camera app so it can search for updates if necessary. These updates don’t just fix bugs or add features, they also patch security vulnerabilities and improve overall security.

• Enable 2FA (two-factor authentication)

If your security camera uses two-factor authentication for logins, enable it. Logins then require you authenticate from another channel, like a text, email or facial recognition. That way a stranger or someone remote can’t log into the camera app as easily.

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