How to Set Up Home Security Properly
The global home security market is growing by leaps and bounds. Experts expect the market rise by 20.1% by 2026. This is in addition to an expected increase of 21.6% from 2021 to 2022.
From ring doorbell cameras to complete home security systems, consumers want these solutions. It's never been easier to monitor your front door remotely. With cloud-based video streaming, homeowners can see every part of their home.
Sharing doorbell camera footage on neighbourhood social media is now common. These home security systems also offer you a sense of security at an affordable price
But do not let the simplicity of the setup fool you. Home security cameras can expose your family to risks if you do not take precautions. Often people are so excited about the possibilities they have that they do not think about the security of the devices.
There are horror stories on the internet about video cameras being hacked. These include strangers saying disturbing things to children about these cameras.
In addition, there was a data breach at Ring in 2019. This exposed the personal data of over 3,000 Ring users. This included usernames and passwords.
That's enough to make you reconsider your decision to add security. But do not let these incidents deter you. You can properly secure a home video camera system to ensure it is not attacked.
Here are some of the things you should do to make your home safe.
You are accessing an IP security camera over the Internet. All commands sent to the system and all recordings that come from it go through your router. So you need to make sure that your router is properly secured.
Hackers break into routers to get to the devices connected to the network. Make sure your router's security protocol is no lower than WPA2. The next generation, WPA3, is even better. These protocols regulate the protection of data transmitted over the wireless network.
Give the router a secure password that is at least 12 characters long. Software can instantly crack a password with only 8 standard characters. But a 12-character password with at least one uppercase letter, one number, and one symbol will take 34,000 years.
A strong password for your security system's administrator account is essential. You should also change the default device and username.
Changing the default username and password for the device should be one of the first things you do. Otherwise, you might get hacked just minutes after you connect to the Internet.
Double-Check the System Uses SSL/TLS Or Other Encryption
You don't want the footage from your cameras to be accessible to anyone. Make sure the security system you choose uses SSL/TLS. Or another standard encryption.
This ensures that the data cannot be intercepted and viewed. SSL is short for Secure Sockets Layer, and TLS stands for Transport Layer Security. Without some form of encryption, a hacker can easily break into your device.
If your security system has an automatic update feature, you should turn it on. Unfortunately, many users don't remember to update their device's software. This makes your device more vulnerable to hacker attacks.
The updates often contain important security fixes for found vulnerabilities. You should make sure that the updates are installed promptly. That’s why automating this is best.
Do you have multiple family members accessing your cloud-based security device? If so, set up some access levels. Not everyone needs to be at an administrator level
Hackers love it when they can crack an admin user's login for an account. This gives them more privileges, such as changing settings. Granting lower privileges to most family members, such as "view only," increases security.
There are several security features available for your system. Manufacturers often do not enable all security settings by default. The user must turn on all or some of them.
If you are not sure which settings should be on or off, we are here to help. Some home security systems offer generous sharing options. This can be an invitation for hackers. You should limit them as much as possible.
Most people access their security camera through their smartphone. Make sure you secure your device and keep it updated with the latest operating system. Hackers can gain access to a security system through a device with weak security measures.
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Give Onyx IT a call and schedule a visit. We'll be happy to help you set up your security system with best practices.
Article used with permission from The Technology Press.
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