The market for home security systems has recently grown exponentially. According to experts, the market will reach a growth rate of 20.1% by 2026. This is on top of the anticipated growth of 21.6% from 2021 to 2022. Which brings up the question, how do we protect ourselves in this ever changing environment? This blog will explore some tips on how you can set yourself up for safer home security.
People want to feel safe and protected. It’s why they install Ring doorbell cams or setup entire home security systems. It has never been so simple to keep an eye on your front door at all times. With the ability to watch on cloud-based video streams, homeowners can view all parts of their home in the palm of their hands.
It is common practice for doorbell camera footage to end up on neighborhood social groups. These home security systems are providing peace of mind at an affordable cost.
But don’t let the easy setup fool you. If you don’t take the necessary precautions, home security cameras can put your family in danger. People get so excited by everything they can do and see, that. they don’t stop and think about device security.
There are too many horror stories about hacked camera footage. This includes strangers getting into your baby cams and saying disturbing things through them.
Ring was also on the receiving end of a data breach in 2019. Exposing over 3,000 users’ personal information due to that breach. The leak included passwords and usernames.
These occurrences can be scary to learn about, but don’t let it deter you. There are ways to properly secure a home camera system that ensures you won’t be breached.
Here are our tips to set yourself up for safer home security.
Secure Your Router
The way you connect to your IP security camera is through the internet. Any instructions to the system or video output passes through your router. Therefore, you must ensure that you properly secure your router.
Hackers tend to exploit your routers in the attempt to gain access to devices attached to your network. Make sure that your router’s security protocol is WPA2 or above. If it’s on WPA3, even better. These protocols control the protection of data transmission through the wireless network.
In addition to the routers protocol, make sure you set a secure password with at least 12 characters. Certain software is easily able to crack a password with only 8 standard characters. In comparison, a 12-character password with at least one uppercase letter, one number and one symbol can take 34,000 years to crack.
Change Default Username & Password
The admin account for your security system also needs a strong password. Your router usually comes with a default username and password that you need to change. A hacker will have access to a list of all device defaults and use them to break into these systems.
The first thing you should do is change the devices default username and password. If not, you risk a hack just minutes after connecting to the internet.
Make Sure the System Employs SSL/TLS or Other Encryption
You don’t want anyone to have the ability to download and see your camera footage. Make sure the security system you choose mentions SSL/TLS. Or another type of standard encryption.
This security and encryption will ensure your data cannot be viewed or intercepted. TLS stands for Transport Layer Security, whereas SSL is for Secure Sockets Layer. A hacker can easily access your device if you don’t employ encryption.
Regularly Update Your Software
The best thing you can do for this is turn on the automatic update feature if your security system has one. Unfortunately, a lot of users forget to update the software of their devices. Without doing so, you are more open to hacking.
The creators of these systems often discover vulnerabilities and include patches in the updates. Make sure to install the updates when they become available. Which is why automation is ideal.
Assign Access Levels for Multiple Users
Do multiple members of the family have access to your cloud-based security system? If so, it would be smart to create some access levels. Not everyone needs to be an administrator.
Hackers love when they are able to gain access into an account through an admin user. An admin account in particular has more privileges, like changing settings. Giving the rest of your family member low-level access, like “view only,” is a lot safer for your security.
Secure Your Mobile Devices Too
Most people use their smartphones to access their security cameras. Which means it’s important to update and secure your device with the newest operating system. Hackers can easily gain access to a home security system through a device without proper safeguards.
Upgrade with:
- Mobile Anti-Malware
- DNS Filtering
- Screen Locking
- Automatic Updates
Looking for Help Protecting Your Cloud Security System?
Interested in protecting your cloud-based security systems? Give us a call and schedule a visit. We’d be happy to help you set yourself up for safer home security according to best practices.
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STG IT Consulting Group proudly provides IT Service in Greater Los Angeles and the surrounding areas for all of your IT needs.
