Imagine someone constantly ringing your doorbell in the small hours of the night or worse, a hacker gaining full control of your dwelling house Wi-Fi. This tin can be anyone'south worst nightmare—one that many Ring users have been haunted past in the past.

So how does a Ring doorbell get hacked? What are the implications of a hacked doorbell? And are in that location ways to protect ourselves and our backdrop?

How Does a Ring Get Hacked?

Band had its share of security hiccups over the years even though its popularity spiked when Amazon officially purchased it in February 2018. While the majority of the issues have been resolved, most Ring users are now aware that their doorbells tin can indeed be hacked and are finding means to stay vigilant.

In that location are two common ways by which a Ring doorbell gets hacked in the first place.

Weak passwords: The weaker a countersign is, the easier information technology is for a hacker to pause it and proceeds access to your device and network. Ring doorbells with weak default passwords such as "123456" or "000000" are the first to fall victim to hackers.

my password hacked

All it takes is password spamming software for a hacker to admission your password.

No encryption: The data that travels betwixt your Band device and its awarding may not be encrypted, making it vulnerable to threat actors. The biggest security flaw happens during the initial prepare-up when configuring the Ring doorbell with your local Wi-Fi network.

Since the Ring doorbell and the application communicate over HTTP instead of HTTPS, information technology potentially allows the hackers to intercept the information, thus putting your device at risk.

Risks and Security Issues With Ring Doorbells

Many Ring users have reported incidents of unauthorized users hacking into their devices and taking total control of their doorbells.

Here are some security vulnerabilities and potential take a chance factors that you tin face if your Ring doorbell gets hacked.

Credential Stuffing

Credential stuffing is a malicious practice whereby unauthorized users can gather usernames and passwords from information breaches on different platforms and utilize that information to hack into another device or account.

Unfortunately, the Ring doorbell is also susceptible to this do, and the threat is elevated considering many people use the same password and username for multiple accounts.

Exploiting Your Home Network

A hacked Ring doorbell tin be a pathway to your entire network. Someday your doorbell gets hacked, all the connected devices on your network such as laptops, smartphones, and tablets are at chance of being exploited likewise.

Device Control

A hacker who has taken over your doorbell can ring it at all hours of the dark and increment and subtract the volume equally they please. As well being annoying, it can exist quite terrifying for children and elderly people.

But fifty-fifty more concerning is the idea that hackers tin besides have command of your device's recordings and know when the house is empty for potential robberies.

Online Botnets

botnet-hackers-use

An army of slave devices that have been hacked is known as botnets. Hackers usually apply the collective ability of these botnets to assail websites, servers, and organizations. Band doorbells with weak security are a prime target for such botnet recruiters.

How to Protect Your Doorbell From Hackers

Good security hygiene can go on your Band doorbell safe from hackers. Hither are some tips to keep your Ring doorbell safety and secure from outside attacks.

Update Passwords

Though a seemingly simple practise, most people rarely update their passwords. What'southward worse, they may apply the same passwords for all their accounts.

Since well-nigh hackers apply credential stuffing to hack passwords and account data, to say passwords should be updated regularly would be an understatement.

Information technology is essential to switch passwords regularly and use separate ones for all accounts. This way, even if your Ring gets hacked, at to the lowest degree the problem is isolated.

Y'all can also opt for secure password-generating services to ensure your passwords are e'er up to date and secure.

Enable Two-Step Verification

Two-step verification adds an extra layer of hallmark to ensure your account information is not shared in the effect that your countersign is compromised.

Band does come with a two-footstep verification feature—that most users are not aware of every bit it is non enabled by default. This feature can exist enabled directly from the Ring app.

Once enabled, every fourth dimension you log into your Band 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. Keep in mind that the code must be entered within 10 minutes, later which it volition expire (requiring y'all to request a new one).

Add a Shared User

Ring Doorbell Two People Waving At It

Practise you want your friends and family to access your Ring in instance of emergencies? As a dominion of pollex, you lot should refrain from sharing login information with anyone.

Fortunately, the Ring app and Video Doorbell come with a flexible feature for adding a "Shared User" to your account. This way you lot can all the same provide Ring access to others while keeping your account data secure.

Monitor and Delete Old Footage

It'due south e'er best to delete your old video footage from your Ring app. With more than footage available, potential hackers would have more information to access and pose a security risk.

Besides, if you run across whatever footage that seems unfamiliar, it's a practiced indication that your Ring has been compromised.

Along with deleting old footage, you should also refrain from sharing your Ring Video Doorbell footage with anyone. This includes any social media platform and fifty-fifty Amazon Sidewalk.

Even highly secure platforms can increase the likelihood of a security alienation on your devices, so it's important to proceed your sensitive data condom besides every bit individual.

Invest in an Antivirus Solution

Having a robust and reliable antivirus or firewall solution to protect your Ring device from unauthorized intrusions is a must, even if you are taking all other precautions.

You should also go along your device updated with the latest software to have reward of new security updates and patches equally Amazon is continuously updating their devices.

The Importance of Privacy With Smart Technology

internet privacy information

The recent advances in data technology take paralyzed our privacy and opened doors for security attacks. Band is no exception and like most modern devices that communicate through a network, the Ring doorbell is besides vulnerable to hacks and security breaches.

Fifty-fifty though Band has consistently assured that the data breaches with Ring are not caused by the Ring infrastructure (Amazon servers, etc.), it is our responsibility as consumers to research and understand the importance of privacy with cybertechnology and take steps to protect our personal data.

Ring Rolls Out Stop-to-End Encryption to All Users Globally

Just encryption isn't turned on by default—you'll demand to opt-in for the extra security.

Read Next

About The Writer