Protect Your Privacy With Your Own Cloud Security Cameras
How many people put stickers on their laptop webcams because they worry about being spied on? Rumors of hackers gaining access to webcams and USB microphones are constantly present in today’s tech world, but it’s even worse when the manufacturer in charge of the connected camera is the one who merges the video with you.
As detailed in a recent report from The Intercept , Amazon Ring home security cameras store unencrypted video footage from both outdoor and indoor cameras. Ring also hired people to view and tag these potentially sensitive videos to help leverage the “machine learning” capabilities of its Neighbors virtual network.
Even more frustrating is the fact that these videos could be shared and distributed to everyone simply by copying and pasting them. And for those with access to the Ring database, it was enough to know the user’s email address to connect to the live broadcast of everything their cameras saw.
According to a statement provided by Ring to The Intercept, “These videos are taken exclusively from public Ring videos from the Neighbors app (subject to our terms of service), as well as from a small subset of Ring users who have provided their explicit written consent to allow us to access and use their videos are for such purposes. “
However, it’s a great reminder that security cameras like these, designed to keep our homes safe, have serious privacy implications.
Are there any privacy tips for cloud connected cameras?
In such cases, there is little you can do to prevent unauthorized access to your cloud-connected camera. Other than removing cloud cameras and surveillance devices from your home, there is no reliable way to set them up so that they are not available to the company that controls the cloud service. You just have to make sure that those who protect your data are doing the right thing, as is the case with Google , Facebook , Uber and many others.
If a company collects unencrypted data, then in theory it has access to everything that contains that data. Even if a company does not allow its employees to view video from their customers’ cameras, there is always potential for hackers or the government to find their way into.
Imagine the microphones are hot and the cameras are spinning
If you still want to take advantage of the cloud-connected camera to keep your home safe while you’re away, it’s best to treat all cameras, microphones, and similar devices as if someone could watch or listen. Chances are, at some point, someone is likely to become one – whether with evil or lustful intentions. Keep CCTV cameras and other recording devices away from places where you want complete privacy, such as your bedroom, and do not do anything in front of them that you would never want to put on the Internet.
While the same can be said for what you say in front of your smart speakers or your webcam located on your computer monitor, it’s up to you where you are willing to sacrifice convenience for privacy. I wouldn’t be so worried if someone knew I was yelling at Alexa, but I probably won’t put The Nest facing the bathroom.
When in doubt, seal it up
This may sound paranoid, but if you have any suspicions about the device, you should turn it off, unplug it, or otherwise unplug it. Apply tape or stickers to your webcams. Turn off smart devices when not in use (or at least turn off their microphones ). Unplug USB microphones when you don’t need them. Disconnect from unfamiliar Wi-Fi networks. Customize your user preferences to share as little data as possible. Do not store sensitive data on unsecured cloud drives. The more holes you create in your privacy wall, the more likely it is to be abused.
Pay attention to user agreements and privacy policy
Not every camera in your home is hacked, and some companies do their best to provide peace of mind to their users, including encrypting your data, being overly transparent about how your data is stored or used, or not collecting data in the first place. …
For example, Facebook – despite being notorious for using user data to sell ads – very soon revealed what its new Alexa-powered Portal video chat devices are doing with your video data . Of course, when such promises are made, there is always the potential for small print, PR and / or loopholes, but in the case of Amazon Ring cameras, there were no such promises. You may have to dig in to find out what the company is actually doing or not doing with your data, but it’s worth investigating.
Post your own security camera setup
Products like the Nest cameras or Amazon Ring appeal for their convenience, affordability, and simplicity. They are easy to set up, you can easily connect them to other devices in your home, and someone else keeps all your data for you. If you don’t mind a little work, you can set up your own system and make sure no one else has access to your video or your channels.
Before doing this, make sure that your intended installation complies with legal requirements . As for the network itself, you will need to create your own cameras and security devices using Arduino or Raspberry Pi minicomputers, or purchase cameras that can dump their recordings to a home server or SD card. You will also need to connect your home and install these devices yourself , as well as set up your own hard drive or server to store videos . Finally, you will want to look into open source software that can help you, although you will also want to check what you are installing or read the comments of others to make sure the software itself does not contain any nasty backdoor to your system. …