I’ll never forget the joy and excitement I felt when I got my first smart camera. I felt like I took a step into the future. Being able to watch my house from miles away through my phone. I could see all the corners in my house and even talk to my delivery driver when I’m around. It gave me a sense of comfort and control for my home.

However, the excitement faded into anxiety when I read a news about hackers gaining access to people’s smart cameras. The mere thought of someone spying on my family, trailing our moves made my skin grow goose bumps. I began thinking if it could happen to me too.

That thought woke me up and I got to know that in as much as smart cameras are incredibly convenient, they’re also vulnerable. Anything that has to do with the internet is prone to being hacked, but that wasn’t enough to discourage me on technology because I believed there was a way I could lock down my smart cameras and I’m happy I did.

Understanding the Risk: Why Smart Cameras Get Hacked

Before taking a step on protecting your device, it’s crucial you know why you’re a target. Thinking about it: these cameras come with microphones and some have speakers. Hackers don’t gain access to a video feed, they are able to listen to conversations and in some cases, communicate to you or your family. This action is enough to drive someone crazy.

When I started researching about the issue, I found out that a lot of the hacks weren’t super advanced. Some just infiltrated the weak by exploiting weak passwords or default settings. Imagine someone discovering that your camera is still using it’s factory-set password or default username and within the twinkle of an eye they’re spying on our feed.

Step 1: Change Default Passwords Immediately

This might seem too easy but many people often skip this process. When I set up my first camera, I lazily left my default password on for a few days thinking I’ll get back to it later. But that was a grave mistake I made. Smart cameras often come with factory-set passwords and these passwords are easy to access online.

Changing your default password is the first thing to do when setting up a new camera. And by changing your password I don’t mean simple passwords like “1234567”. Go for a strong, and unique password that has a combination of upper and lowercase letters, numbers and symbols. A password like “S3cur3M3!” is difficult to guess and be tricky. I also use a password manager to keep track of all my devices credentials.

Step 2: Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

Honestly; I wasn’t a huge fan of two-factor authentication. It felt unnecessary to me. But after reading about it’s benefits, it took it seriously. With 2FA, someone can’t access your password without secondary information which is usually a code sent your phone.

Many smart cameras have this option and I highly recommend turning it on. It isn’t impenetrable but it makes hacking difficult. Having an extra layer of protection gave me peace of mind knowing that my password stands between my camera and the rest of the world.

Step 3: Keep Your Firmware Up-to Date

I no longer know to tell you guys that keeping your camera’s firmware updated is crucial. Not just your camera but also other smart devices around you. Manufacturers are security conscious and always comes up with new ways of fixing vulnerabilities and extending these upgrade to their devices. It’s more a digital lock getting stronger if you apply the updates.

I once the mistake of ignoring my firmware update too. I thought it wasn’t a big deal and my camera was better off without it. And trust me it didn’t turn out well. These updates protect your system. You can allow for automatic updates or if your camera doesn’t have that feature then you can set a reminder to always check for latest updates regularly.

Step 4: Secure Your Wi-Fi Network

Your smart camera is secure based on the network it’s connected to. If your Wi-Fi is weak, that will extend to your devices. The first step in this case is to ensure that your Wi-Fi is encrypted with WPA3 or WPA2. These are the strongest forms of encryption currently available for most home networks.

Doing that is good but not yet all for it. You’ll also need to change your routers default login credentials. This is different from your WI-Fi password. It’s the username and password you use to access your router settings. If hackers able to gain access to this, they’ll be able to change your settings and be in charge of your entire network. So endeavor to use a strong and unique password.

For additional security, creating a separate guest network for your smart devices will be helpful. This way, even if someone is able to access your smart gadgets, they can’t access the computers, phones or other sensitive devices on your main network.

Step 5: Turn Off Remote Viewing When Not Needed

One thing that makes smart cameras cool is remote viewing. The access to access your house or check on your kids even while you’re away. This feature is quite good, but why leave it on when it’s not needed?

May smart cameras gives you an option that allows you disable remote viewing through the settings and I recommend you turn it off when you’re home or when it’s not in use. It’s an easy step that reduces the chances of being hacked by a stranger without your consent.

Step 6: Review Permissions and Data Sharing

The first time I set up my smart camera, I didn’t pay attention to the permissions it requested for. But with time, after reviewing the apps settings and realized that many apps request access to more data than they actually need like my location or access to other devices on my network.

Always ensure to run a thorough check on your apps permission and make sure it doesn’t have access to more than it needs. For example: a camera doesn’t need access to your location or phone’s microphone, so you turn these off. The less data you share, the more secured you are.

Step 7: Monitor Activity Logs

Smart cameras often keep records of who’s accessed the device and time they did. I was oblivious of this feature till I stumbled on it in the settings. Now, I always check the logs to make sure there’s no unusual activity like logins from unknown locations or suspicious times.

If you happen to observe something suspicious, be quick to change your password immediately and review your security settings. It’s a simple and effective way of staying ahead of hackers.

Step 8: Use a VPN for Extra Security

As someone really conscious of my security using a VPN( Virtual Private Network) adds an extra layer of protection to my camera. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic, making it hard for someone to penetrate into your data.

I use a VPN to access my cameras when I’m far from home, and it’s definitely worth it cause it added to my peace of mind, especially times I use the public Wi-Fi. Setting up a VPN might be challenging and difficult to set up but it’s definitely worth all the stress.

Conclusion: Protect Your Privacy and Security

Smart cameras are excellent tools for home security, and they also come with their own risks. Getting enlightened about these devices isn’t just about setting them up and forgetting it, it requires a proactive approach. Change passwords and enable two-factor authentication to keeping firmware updated and also monitor your activity logs. Every step you take adds to your security.

In essence, it’s about balancing convenience and security. Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with accessing your home remotely. I made sure my peace of mind isn’t compromised by security risks and now I enjoy the benefits of smart cameras, while keeping the hackers at bar.