Hacker Startles Nanny via Baby Monitor with Camera

Hacker Startles Nanny via Baby Monitor with Camera

Imagine standing in your infant’s bedroom, going on with your regular routine of changing diapers and playing. What a lovely thought, right? Yes, but not if you heard an unfamiliar voice come across the baby monitor say, “That’s a really poopy diaper.” Unfortunately, this is a true story.

Ashley Stanley, nanny to one-year-old Samantha, actually witnessed this. At first, Stanley thought it was Samantha’s mom and dad playing a joke on her, but she quickly realized someone had hacked into the camera.

“He said something else like ‘you should probably password protect your camera,'" said Stanley.

As you’ve probably already figured out, the Samantha’s parents weren’t tricking the nanny. The baby monitor with WiFi access, allowing parent to check in on their children from an iPhone or iPad, also has two-way audio. So, parents can see and “ewww” and “goooo” to their babies no matter when they are. Very cool feature for parents; not such a cool feature for hackers.

The problem is that these types of cameras are easy to hack as they don’t take much skill. This coupled with the fact that there are websites dedicated to posting video and audio from open cameras creates a scary situation for parents and their children.

Parents and caretakers, learn from this situation and employ the following strategies to keep you and your children safe from the prying eyes and ears of hackers:

  • As soon as you get your camera up and running, change the default password, replacing it with a strong, personalized password.
  • Make sure you have the most up-to-date firmware installed on the monitor.
  • Consider where to actually place the monitor and what the camera is pointing toward because this is what a hacker will be able to see…and hear.

About the Author

Ginger Hill is Group Social Media Manager.

Featured

  • Just as Expected

    GSX produced a wonderful tradeshow earlier this week. Monday was surprisingly strong in the morning, and the afternoon wasn’t bad at all. That’s Monday’s results and asking attendees to travel on Sunday. Just a quick hint, no one wants to give up their weekend to travel and set up an exhibit booth. I’m just saying. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • NOLA: The Crescent City

    Twenty years later we finds ourselves in New Orleans. Twenty years ago the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina forced exhibitors and attendees to look elsewhere for tradeshow floor space. Read Now

    • Industry Events
    • GSX
  • Nothing Artificial About this Intelligence

    I have been looking forward to this year’s GSX show in New Orleans, the Cresent City, or if you prefer The Big Easy. It seems like quite a while since we’ve been here. Twenty years ago, ASIS, as it was known then was literally washed out of the city by someone known as Katrina. It is a good thing to come back to NOLA. Read Now

  • From Monitors to Mission Control

    Security Operations Centers (SOC) were once defined by rows of static monitors, each displaying a single feed with operators quietly watching for issues. That model has become obsolete. Incidents evolve too quickly, data comes from multiple locations, and decisions must be made in seconds—not minutes. Read Now

  • New Gas Monkey Garage Venue Uses AI-Enhanced Video Technology

    Gas Monkey Garage, the automotive custom shop and entertainment brand founded by Richard Rawlings of Fast N’ Loud TV fame, has opened a vibrant new restaurant and bar in South Dakota, equipped with advanced, AI-enhanced video tech from IDIS Americas. Read Now

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.