The Ring doorbell has become a common product in most households. Like any other technology, they are also vulnerable to cyberattacks if not protected adequately. The most common reason a Ring doorbell is vulnerable to cyberattacks is because of its connection to your home network. A cybercriminal can access and compromise this connection, steal your home WIFI credential and breach your privacy.
It has recently surfaced that a former employee of Amazon’s Ring doorbell camera unit spied on a female customer for months back in 2017 violating the customer’s privacy. These unlawful actions are not just limited to employees at Ring, these actions can be performed by cybercriminals where devices have not been protected adequately.
How can a Ring Doorbell get hacked?
There are two reasons devices could get hacked are:
Weak passwords: A weak Ring and network password can make it easier for a hacker to gain access to your device and your network. All it takes is password spamming software for a hacker to access your passwords.
No encryption: The data that travels between your Ring device and its application may not be encrypted, making your doorbell one of the weakest points in your network.
Risks and Security Issues with Ring Doorbells
Here are some security vulnerabilities and potential risk factors leading to the hacking of these smart doorbells.
Credential Stuffing
Credential stuffing is a malicious practice whereby cybercriminals gather usernames and passwords from data breaches on different platforms and use that information to hack into another device or account such as Ring doorbells and other smart doorbells because many people use the same password and username for multiple accounts.
Exploiting Your Home Network
A hacked Ring doorbell can be a pathway to your entire network. Anytime your doorbell gets hacked, all the connected devices on your network such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets are at risk of being exploited as well.
How to Protect Your Doorbell from Hackers
Here are some tips to keep your Ring doorbell safe and secure.
Create a strong password for your device and network.
The most common mistakes people make with their passwords are that they barely change their passwords, and they use the same passwords for multiple accounts. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) suggests that a combination of three random words increases password diversity, making it harder for cybercriminals to guess your password.
It is essential to switch passwords regularly and use separate ones for all accounts. This way, even if your Ring gets hacked, at least the problem is isolated.
Invest in an Antivirus Solution
Having a robust and reliable antivirus solution to protect your Ring device from unauthorised intrusions is a must, even if you are taking all other precautions. Although a lot of devices such as Laptops and PCs come with built-in Anti-Virus software such as Microsoft Defender, they lack functionality compared to paid services such as Malwarebytes which possess a much more comprehensive set of features.
Regular Software Updates
You should also keep your device updated with the latest software to take advantage of new security updates and patches as Amazon is continuously updating their devices.
Enable Two-Step Verification
Two-step verification adds an extra layer of authentication to ensure your account information is not shared if your password is compromised.
Once enabled, every time you log into your Ring account, a one-time password will be sent to your associated email address. You will then be prompted to enter the six-digit key to log in successfully.
Monitor and Delete Old Footage
It’s always best to delete your old video footage from your Ring app. With more footage available, potential hackers would have more information to access and pose a security risk.
Use a Virtual Private Network (VPN) for your home network.
Ring doorbells and other smart devices alike connected to your home Wi-Fi often lack end-to-end encryption. You can use a VPN solution to combat this problem. You can install a VPN on your router to protect your entire network along with all the connected devices. A VPN protects all your traffic while moving it through an encrypted tunnel and masking your IP address.