With more and more people wanting to not only secure their online presence and devices, but they are also looking for ways to secure their homes, property and loved ones, and with this increased want of security, they are increasingly opting for the use of a wireless Wi-Fi camera.

These cameras are designed to provide home and property security and help ensure your families’ safety. Their use also helps to deter possible intruders, but with these benefits, there also an increased risk associated with the use of a wireless Wi-Fi camera.

Criminals have found ways to Hack into, there have been thousands of reported Wi-Fi camera Hacks. Check Hacked security camera list, one site has reported more than 73,000 cameras in 256 countries have been hacked. ABC News reported a family’s baby monitor was hacked and used to spy on a 2yr old.

Learning how to use and prevent our wireless Wi-Fi camera, baby monitors, and webcams from being Hacked has become of the utmost importance.

How Does A Wireless Wi-Fi Camera Get Hacked?

These Wi-Fi-enabled devices such as Wi-Fi cameras, webcams, and baby monitors lack any security features to prevent Hacking. They do not support SSL/TLS encryption, See A More Detailed Description Here. This lack of any type of encryption allows any video recording vulnerable to Hackers. Lack of user knowledge about the security between their router and cameras also contributes to Wi-Fi camera Hacks.

Hackers are using a technique called “Clickjacking” See A More Detailed Description Here. This “Clickjacking” is used to trick a user into “Clicking” on a transparent interface the Hacker has placed over an interface the user is expecting to see. For example, the Hacker places an “Allow” button over a “Play” button once the user “Clicks” on the “Play” button the Hacker has now gained access to their Wi-Fi cameras, webcam, baby monitors, or network.

Securing Wireless Wi-Fi Cameras, Webcams

Now that we know that Wi-Fi-enabled devices such as Security cameras, webcams, and baby monitors are not very secure, we will look at some easy ways to provide some protection to these devices.

Secure your Wi-Fi network by using encryption. Most routers allow you to manually set your encryption, WPA2-AES is a very good choice, See A More Detailed How-To Here.

Use a strong unique password on your router, also change the default SSID Name, See A More Detailed How-To Here, to a strong unique password. Use a different password for each of the networks you may have such as 2.4 and 5.0 if you have. Finally, consider turning off any “Guest Network” features.

Change the default password for your Wi-Fi cameras, using the default password or a weak password on your device is an easy target for any Hackers. They can gain access through the Wi-Fi-enabled devices and once in they have access to your whole network.

The use of a strong unique password that contains Upper/lower case letters, with a combination of numbers and characters is recommended. The more complicated the password the less likely a Hacker could guess it. It is also not recommended to use any existing passwords, create a new unique password.

Reduce Risk

It is also recommended that you turn off the “Remote Online Monitoring” feature. There is an increased risk that the App or website can be exposed to hackers. Keep off until you want to use, and turn it back off once you have finished.

Keep your Wi-Fi-enabled devices up to date with the latest firmware updates, this will help to increase better performance and will help to repair any bugs or errors to the system.

If you set up to automatically update when you originally set up your devices you won’t have to worry, but if you have to manually check for updates to firmware make sure you do regularly by checking your specific manufacturers’ official website and apply any new firmware updates available.

If you are in the market to buy Wi-Fi-enabled cameras, webcam or baby monitor for the first time or replacing old, damaged or broken devices make sure to check The Unsecured IP Camera List to see if the brand you may be interested in purchasing is not on the list.

Purchase devices from a reputable seller, with good customer service and positive customer feedback. Keep in mind a lot of the new Wi-Fi-enabled cameras now provide security options, so make sure your new device supports SSL or TLS and also supports SSL encryption.

Secure Your Webcams

Turn off any webcams you may have. Most new computers, laptops, etc. have built-in webcams so when not using it is recommended you turn them off.

This also applies to any external webcams you may have, it is also recommended you turn off or disable any microphones on your computers and or laptops.

If this all seems a bit extreme, it really isn’t, since Hackers have developed Malware that is able to hear and see us through webcams and microphones we must do all we can to protect our security and privacy. Another good practice is to cover your webcam lens when not in use.

Tape, or a post-it note, will work fine. I personally have a post-it note folded in half covering the external webcam on my desktop monitor, just be sure you don’t stick directly on the lens as this will leave a sticky residue.

Add Some Additional Security

In addition to the already discussed steps to secure any Wi-Fi-enabled devices, you own another great step is the addition of Anti-Malware software/program to your computer, laptop, etc.

We already know the value of having a reputable Anti-Virus software/program protecting our devices, but most Anti-Virus software/programs do not protect against Malware threats. Anti-Malware tools will help to protect against malicious files and sites. They also identify and remove any of these malware threats.

They also help to ensure proper functionality and performance of your computer, laptop, etc. Again it is highly recommended running regular update checks to Anti-Malware software/program, this will help to combat any new Malware threats as they are released.

Protecting any outdoor Wi-Fi enabled cameras you may own is also something you should be securing. Make sure cameras are located away from the elements and are out of reach of burglars and kids.

In The End

With all the threats we may encounter to our security and privacy on a daily basis we must do everything possible to protect ourselves. Cyber-Criminals are finding more new and innovative ways to invade our privacy, they have found ways to access our electronic devices and as we become more and more dependent on these devices they will continue to find new ways to access. So it’s with this knowledge we have to continue to protect ourselves at all times. They’re not going to give up so we must not either!!!!

I hope you enjoyed this post and if you have any questions or just want to leave a comment please do so below

Take care

Stay secure and always practice

Safe Text !!!

Butch

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So if you are interested in starting a project this might be for you!!

Let’s turn your old phone into a security camera

What You Will Need

Items you will need to complete this project are as follows

• Your old Android Phone or Tablet, with a functional front or rear camera
• Charging cables
• Your choice of Camera App for your Android device
• Another Android Device, Phone or Computer
• Wi-Fi access to the old Android Phone or Tablet

Please keep in mind in this project we are using Android Devices, but you will be able to use your old iOS Devices if that is what have. The only difference will in the App or software, for your iOS Devices.

This project will allow you to live stream remotely, receive motion alerts and record, from your old devices. You must bear in mind that these devices do have some limitations to consider, such as overheating and nighttime or dark use. We will look at these limitations.

• Overheating – You may not want to run these Devices on a 24/7 basis due to possible battery over-heating.
• Night and Dark Use – Because most of the cameras on phones’ are not equipped with Infra-Red (IR) night vision there use in dark applications is limited.

Choosing The Right APP

While there are many Apps to turn your old Android phone into a security camera you must take into consideration your specific needs before choosing one. You must find the best one suited to your device, keeping in mind your particular Device’s Operating System (OS).

The App you choose must support your Device’s OS. So before selecting a possible App, you will have to know your OS or the Android system version, you can find this information out by accessing the Devices settings in the phones’ menu under “About Phone”. Once you know this information you can now research the App you want to use.

Some of the more popular security camera App choices are Manything, IPWebcam, Alfred, At Home Camera, Track View, Presence, WardenCam, and Cloud Baby Monitor. Each of these Apps offers different options and features so it is important to review each one thoroughly.

We are going to look at some basic features of each of the Apps I have listed, and I will provide a link to the home pages of each for a more detailed description.

Manything

A free App available on Google Play that allows you to turn your Android Devices and available on Apple Store for your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, into a Wi-Fi-connected security camera.

• Easy Setup
• Motion Detection Alerts
• Cloud Recording
• Live Streaming

For access, on Android Click Here

For access, on iOS Click Here

IPWebcam

A free App available on Google Play that allows you turn your Android
Devices and available on Apple Store for your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, into a Wi-Fi-connected security camera. The offers

• Record Video
• Display camera In PC Browser
• Stream Camera Anywhere Using Data connection
• Stream Camera Using Wi-Fi Internet connection

For access on Android Google Play Click Here

For access on iOS Apple Store Click Here

Alfred

A free App available on Google Play that allows you turn your Android
Devices into a Wi-Fi-connected security camera. That offers

• Live Stream
• Two-Way Talk
• Intruder, Motion Detection Alerts
• Night Vision

For access on Android  Click Here

For access on iOS Click here

At Home Camera

A free App available on Google Play that allows you to turn your Android
Devices and available on Apple Store for your iPhone, or iPad, into a Wi-Fi-connected security camera. That offers

• Remote Monitoring
• Two-Way Talk
• Enhanced Nite-Vision
• Multi-View Display

For access on Android  Click Here

For access on iOS Click Here

Track View

A free App available on Google Play that allows you to turn your Android
Devices and available on Apple Store for your iPhone, or iPad, into a Wi-Fi-connected security camera. That offers

• Tracking Ability
• Motion Detection Alerts
• Sound Detection Alerts
• East to use

For access on Android  Click Here

For access on iOS  Click Here

Presence

A free App available on Google Play that allows you to turn your Android
Devices and available on Apple Store for your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, into a Wi-Fi-connected security camera. That offers

• Record Video
• Motion Detection Alerts
• Two-Way Video Communication
• Multiple Cameras with Single App

For access on Android Click Here

For access on iOS Click Here

Warden Cam

A free App available on Google Play that allows you to turn your Android Devices and available on Apple Store for your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad, into a Wi-Fi-connected security camera.

• Two-way Communication
• Siren Function
• Free Cloud Storage
• Easy To setup

For access on Android Click Here

For access on iOS Click Here

Cloud Baby Monitor

A free App available on Google Play that allows you to turn your Android Devices into a Wi-Fi-connected security camera.

• Two-Way Communication
• Night Light
• Noise And Motion Detection Alerts
• White Noise And Lullabies Built-In

For access on Android Google Play Click Here

For access on iOS Click Here

We Are Done

As you can see there are many different App choices with a variety of options available for our old phone security camera project. One thing we should also remember that because we are using our old phones and these devices are Wi-Fi capable we have to make sure we make them secure.

We have to protect and like all of our Wi-Fi enabled devices, we should be adding a VPN service to protect them from hackers trying to breach these devices. So make sure you can add them to your existing VPN plan.

I hope you enjoyed this post and if you have any questions or just want to leave a comment please do so below

Take care

Stay secure and always practice

Safe Text !!!

Butch Post navigation

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