Security Warning: Doorbell monitoring equipment may be hacked, involving multiple brands
Video doorbells allow you to see who is passing by your house or check if the package you are expecting has been delivered.
Many people use cameras to enhance security, but now some criminals are infiltrating video doorbells to monitor your daily activities.
A survey conducted by Consumer Reports (CR) found that some hackers can collect surveillance footage captured by video doorbells from 500 kilometers away.
Although outsiders should not have seen the video, the security measures in CR's investigation were so poor that researchers could easily access it.
We were really surprised to find that anyone could walk up to one of the doorbells in seconds, take it away, and see a screenshot of the doorbell from there, "said Dan Wroclawski of Consumer Reports
Image source: AP Photo/Jessica Hill
Tests have shown that many video doorbells - all using the same mobile application Aiwit - have serious security vulnerabilities, making users vulnerable to security attacks.
The devices used for CR testing with the Aiwit application are sold under the Eken and Tuck brands, but are also sold under other brands such as Fishbot, Rakeblue, Andoe, Luckwolf, etc.
Wroclawski said, "Your home is very private. If someone can see your doorbell camera, see when you come and when you leave, it brings a lot of security risks. For example, abusers or trackers can closely monitor victims, which can create very dangerous situations
He said that the influx of cheap and unsafe electronic products from Chinese manufacturers is an increasingly serious problem.
Wroclawski said, "We see many overseas manufacturers producing these inconspicuous, cheap, and unnamed products
In addition, Toronto based technology expert Marc Saltzman stated that the negative reviews of this app are also a major issue.
Wroclawski said, "Out of over 1000 comments, its average rating is 1/5, which is a huge red flag
He suggests that consumers conduct research before purchasing video doorbells.
To ensure data security, CR recommends disconnecting the aiwit brand video doorbell from WiFi and removing it from the door.
At the time of publication, Eken and Tuck did not respond to CR's questioning.
After investigation, some retailers have decided to stop selling video doorbells that are easily hacked.
Source link:
https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/do-you-have-a-video-doorbell-some-models-can-be-hacked-1.6810286