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The Ultimate Guide To Baby Monitor Security in 2021

Baby monitors are among the many network devices prone to be "easily" hacked if they are not properly secured. Most parents ask this question when purchasing a baby monitor: Can baby monitors be hacked? YES ! There is a possibility that cybercriminals can get their hands on baby monitors to spy on them and even speak to them. Several stories have surfaced on the Internet about baby monitors being hacked, strangers being able to communicate through the monitor's speaker, or baby monitor footage becoming posted online. Table of Contents- How Common Is Baby Monitor Hacking? - Can Wifi Baby Monitors Be Hacked? - Which baby monitors Cannot be hacked? - How do you know if your baby monitor is being hacked?- LED Light Indicators - Automatic Camera Direction Changes - Strange Voices Or Abnormal Noises - Change In Privacy Or Security Settings - Audit Your Wifi Router - How and why are baby monitors hacked?- Analogue Baby Monitors - Digital Baby Monitors - Wi-Fi And Internet-Connected Baby Monitors- Local Area Connected Baby Monitors - Internet Connected Baby Monitors - How to prevent baby monitor hacking?- Research for Vulnerabilities - Reconsider Remote Access - Use Two Factor Authentication - Keep It Up-To-Date - Data Storage - Unplug It - Disable Unnecessary Network Services - Secure Your Wifi Router - Restart Your Baby Monitor Periodically - Use Of Encrypted Connection - Register Your Product And Applications - Password Security - Frequently Asked Questions About Baby Monitor Security

How Common Is Baby Monitor Hacking?

Although it is extremely unlikely that something like this would happen, reports suggest that baby monitors have been hacked, and those hacks have led to hackers releasing their footage online. Anyone with malicious intentions can hack any network device connected to the Internet, including the baby monitor, as long as the device is not appropriately secured.

Can Wifi Baby Monitors Be Hacked?

The Internet and cloud storage option of wifi baby monitors make them vulnerable to hacking. Luckily, most have safeguards to reduce this risk. Furthermore, most broadband providers offer high-security, password-protected wireless access that should keep unauthorized individuals away from your baby monitor. You must secure your home internet network with a strong password to ensure your monitor is safe and secure from hackers. Do not overlook updating your baby monitor software regularly, as updates contain security updates.  The last step is to examine how your monitor stores footage. Ensure the encryption features are enabled. 

Which baby monitors Cannot be hacked?

The safest Baby Monitor is the monitor which is not connected to the Internet.  It is important to evaluate your needs for monitoring your baby remotely before choosing the type of baby monitor you'll use. If you decide to go with a wireless option, please make sure you read the below recommendations to find the safest option in the range of wireless monitors.   Look at whether the manufacturer provides regular security and privacy updates. Check if there is any history of hacking available for that model and brand on the Internet. Below I have listed the models and brands which have been known to be vulnerable to hacking. The security features of the model should include encryption, secure passwords, and unauthorized access detection. Find out if the manufacturer offers helpline or email technical support if you encounter problems using your baby monitor.

How do you know if your baby monitor is being hacked?

The hacking baby monitor news story describes a hacker listening in on conversations, interacting with kids, and more. I will discuss how you can quickly assess whether something fishy is happening with your baby monitor. You might need to consult your manufacturer or any technical expert for reassurance.  LED Light Indicators Most of the Baby Monitors come with the LED transmission light on them. With that said, when your baby monitor is transmitting video audio feed remotely, that LED will blink to let you know that the baby monitor is being accessed remotely. If this LED blinks irregularly, then you should contact manufacturer support by sending an email explaining the behavior. Automatic Camera Direction Changes Video baby monitors usually have Pan/Tilt & Rotation options so you can adjust the settings to view your baby. Your baby monitor has most likely been hacked if it has started following your movements.  Your hacked baby monitor might be rotating by itself or pointing in a different direction from normal. Strange Voices Or Abnormal Noises Many baby monitor hacking news stories surfacing on the Internet indicate hackers usually use microphones and speakers to communicate with babies. If you hear any unusual noises coming out of your baby monitor, or if you hear someone's voice, then you should be concerned about hacking. Change In Privacy Or Security Settings Your baby monitor is at risk if a hacker changes the default password, adds a new user, or changes other settings for easy access. You may need to check your baby monitor's privacy and security settings very often to make sure it's not compromised.  Audit Your Wifi Router Your wifi router logs and settings are the only places a hacker can leave some traceable information about his activities. Check your wifi router settings to make sure that no unusual network traffic or any new IPs are accessing your network frequently.

How and why are baby monitors hacked?

Many baby monitors do not require you to set a password when installing them, so they are pretty straightforward to hack. These passwords are either pre-configured or default, so they can be guessed (like 11111), easy to find on the Internet. If there is no password, anyone with the default password can log in. These can be accessed via an app or the web if made online. The baby Monitor can be audio only monitor or Video + audio baby monitor. If you like to read, I have written comprehensive article on Video Vs Audio Baby Monitors. The type of monitor, the frequency it uses to communicate and encryption basically determines the difficulty of hacking baby monitor. Below I have discussed all these aspects in details. Analogue Baby Monitors Analogue baby monitors generally use 49 MHz or 900 Mhz radio frequency to send sound and video from the camera to the receiver. Using the same frequency as your analog monitor, anyone nearby can receive your audio and video. Analog monitors usually can be manually switched to another frequency in the event of interference; however, they are often unprotected, so I cannot recommend them. Digital Baby Monitors In addition to the scrambling of the signal, digital baby monitors offer less static and interference than comparable analog monitors. However, there is still the chance of interference with other wireless devices operating on the same frequency. Wireless baby monitors generally work on 2.4 GHz frequencies, except for DECT baby monitors, which operate at 1.9 GHz frequencies and are less affected by interference. The digitally enhanced cordless telecommunications (DECT) technology is the latest standard for wireless devices such as baby monitors. DECT operates on the 1.9 GHz frequency, which the FCC approved in 2007 for voice-only operation. 1.9 GHz is less crowded than 2 GHz, so there is no interference with other systems. All video and audio transmissions between the baby and parent units are encrypted, which provides a secure connection. There is a disadvantage with digital baby monitors because they are localized, which means they do not work unless they are physically close to the receiver. Wi-Fi And Internet-Connected Baby Monitors The range of wifi baby monitors is unlimited, which means you can check in on your baby from anywhere on Earth as long as you have an internet connection to your camera and reception device. It works well with smartphones, computers, and other consumer gadgets. Like any wireless device, wireless baby monitors can be hacked, especially if you let them go unsecured or find your password. Also, some models have firmware with bugs, so hackers could compromise the entire line if they compromise one model. Hackers are mainly targeting wifi baby monitors, so that is why I recommend avoiding these devices altogether. When you buy a WiFi-enabled baby monitor, make sure it keeps you updated with the latest firmware and lets you change the password.  There is no guarantee that a baby monitor will not be hacked, but the type of baby monitor determines the difficulty of breaching security. You can use Wifi baby monitors in two different ways: Local Area Connected Baby Monitors When you use your baby monitor within your premises and use your wifi router to connect the baby monitor and your monitoring device (i.e., phone or handheld monitor). In that case, you are less likely to be hacked. Before gaining access to your baby monitor, the hacker needs to get in close to your house within the wireless router range. Internet Connected Baby Monitors Most baby monitors allow users to hear and see what their children are doing even if they're not at home. However, hackers can compromise manufacturers' websites and crack passwords. Taking this route makes you more vulnerable to hacking.

How to prevent baby monitor hacking?

Hackers frequently take advantage of unsecured baby monitors on the web. They may do this not just for the money but also as a form of amusement. There are several ways to protect yourself from this activity. This is how to keep your baby monitor as secure as possible if it's connected to the Internet and synchronized to the Cloud for storage: Research for Vulnerabilities There are plenty of baby monitors that offer encryption, but not all. Before installing any baby monitor in your home, make sure you check how safe they are. Secondly, it's a great idea to read up on other peoples' experiences with specific devices, like the Fredi monitor, it was vulnerable to hacking and had an open password. You might not find information about security holes in your baby monitor, but that does not mean they're not there. They may have been overlooked previously. It would be best if you ask retailers and manufacturers a lot of questions about security. By doing so, they will prioritize safety for their products. Reconsider Remote Access Wifi monitors usually allow you to access the devices even if you're not at home. This feature may sound convenient, but consider if you need it. In some cases, you may have to use your home's wireless network to set up the baby monitor, but if you don't plan to use the monitor remotely, disable it. It's also expensive, especially if you don't have an unlimited data plan. Use Two Factor Authentication If two-factor authentication is available, you should enable it. It's an extra layer of security you won't want to be without. Go to the default settings and activate all security features. In addition to your password and username, you must have a code to access the app. Keep It Up-To-Date It would help if you patched security flaws as soon as they arise and fix them to safeguard yourself against prying eyes. Keeping your baby monitor updated and installing updates when they become available is crucial.  Most updates are automatic; some apps may not send you a notification when they update, so it's worth checking often. Data Storage Please get to know where your videos are stored and how they use to backup. Learn who manages their access. The security measures that cloud storage facilities are implementing to prevent data leaks. I do not recommend opting for remote storage options because most baby monitors provide built-in storage on SD cards that comes in handy if you need to view the recordings in the future. Unplug It A baby monitor indicator lets you know someone is watching, either by a light or a tone. But you aren't always there to find out. Do not leave your baby monitor running at all when you are not using it. This increases the likelihood of being hacked. Disable Unnecessary Network Services Make sure the Port Forwarding, UPNP, and DDNS network services are disabled in the monitor settings. These all services are related to remote accessing and viewing of your device feed. Secure Your Wifi Router You might think of changing your wifi network password, but what about the admin password for the wifi router itself? You can access most wireless router administrative features through your web browsers, such as renaming your wireless network or changing your security settings and password. Tech-savvy users can also change the default port of a baby monitor from which the monitor is accessed remotely. If 9000 is by default, almost every hacker knows about it by Googling it, but you can change 8082 instead of making it difficult to guess. Also, you'll be alerted if someone tries to log in to your network without authorization, as well as a list of devices associated with your network. Monitor your logs regularly to make sure that no unauthorized access has occurred. Look for odd things in the log, such as strange IP addresses or odd times. You may take these below steps to further strengthen your router security. - Disable or change the default password and username. - Make sure your router firmware is up to date. - Make sure the router cannot be accessed remotely. - Enable logging on your router; you can keep track of IP addresses that connect to it. Restart Your Baby Monitor Periodically It is a good idea to restart your network device to apply any updates if they have been downloaded. Some devices, including baby monitors, download updates and security patches but do not apply them until the device restarts. Use Of Encrypted Connection Ensure that the monitor you choose applies encryption techniques to your stored data and offers an encrypted connection. If encryption is applied, even if your network or data is breached, the hacker won't be able to see what's in there. Register Your Product And Applications A manufacturer can notify you whenever an update is released if you have registered your product/application. Password Security The password is most important part of baby monitor security, please follow below password security guidelines before you set any password on your baby monitor. - Change the default password and log in immediately on your monitor to something difficult to guess. - Never reuse passwords. If one of your login credentials is compromised, all your other accounts that also use the same credentials will be at risk. - A regular password change can also help make it less likely that your account will get hacked. - Please avoid using the default password provided by the baby monitor manufacturer because it is likely that hackers are already aware of it. - Consider using password managers instead of typing your passwords over and over again. Password managers are much safer than you think. - Use a mixture of upper case, lower case letters, and numbers. -  Password must contain eight digits -- the greater the number of digits, the better. - Must include special characters in your passwords, e.g.,! @ # ? - If you suspect that your password has become known to anyone, change it right away. - Make sure that only the people you trust have the password. - Install your baby monitor with a password that's hard to guess. Final Thoughts These are some easy steps you can take to ensure your video baby monitor is secure. You are likely to have blocked most of the attacks once you have addressed the items above.   First, please refer to the manufacturer's documentation if you need any help. Feel free to contact me in the comment box if you have questions about your specific baby monitor or router model. I will respond as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions About Baby Monitor Security

Can a baby monitor be hacked if it's not on wifi? The answer is yes. All it takes to hack analog monitors are finding the monitor's static frequency and being in range. A digital baby monitor with Dect Technology is the safest option if you want to avoid hacking events on baby monitors. Which baby monitor models are vulnerable to hacking? According to this case study, the following models had issues related to security, including direct browsing, authentication bypass, information leaks, backdoor information leaks, and privilege escalation. Which monitors are hack-proof? The problem with digital Baby Monitors is that they don't give you access to the feed online like with Wifi baby monitors. Therein lies the risk. The more "accessible" the feed is, the more chance someone finds a way in.    A Read the full article