![]() ![]() ![]() In short, security companies appear to be consciously using multiple levels of security to protect customers from potential abuse by installers and technicians - even if the processes by which they do this aren't entirely transparent. This relentless focus includes both internal and external security protocols." One such company, Frontpoint, said in an email that it tightly constrains personnel access to customer information, disallowing, for instance, agents from watching customer camera feeds - except in particular, time-boxed cases where permissions are obtained from the customer, for the purpose of troubleshooting or other types of assistance.Ī representative of SimpliSafe, another developer straddling the line between DIY and professionally installed home security, responded more broadly to questions about its procedures: "Much of our day-to-day work is focused on maintaining our systems so that vulnerabilities are immediately identified and addressed. ![]() More cameras are available to buy than ever before, whether you're opting into a professionally monitored security system or a DIY alternative. But if customers opt into additional monitoring, which is often offered alongside individual products, that may complicate the issue. With DIY systems, customers set up their own devices, making technician access a moot point. we regularly conduct a variety of automated and manual audits of our systems." "As admin users, they can add, remove or edit user settings. "Only customers can decide who is allowed to access their Vivint system, including their video feeds," a spokesperson for home security company Vivint said. "Our technicians and installers have no access to our customers' video feeds or recorded video, which can only be accessed by a small group of engineers, under monitored conditions, for issues like technical troubleshooting." "We have a team at Comcast dedicated specifically to camera security," a Comcast spokesperson said. Some professionally monitored systems, such as Comcast and now ADT, address the problem by simply strictly limiting the actions technicians can take while assisting customers with their accounts - for instance, disallowing them from adding email addresses to accounts or accessing any recorded clips. ![]() Security cameras are getting cheaper by the year, but that doesn't mean customers should be comfortable giving up their privacy. "The security industry has been paying attention to since 2010," said Kathleen Carroll, chair of the SIA's Data Privacy Advisory Board, "and we continue to work to help our member companies protect their customers." The Security Industry Association - a third-party group of security experts - advises manufacturers such as ADT on matters relating to privacy and security. Likewise, many security companies that use professional installers and technicians have strict procedures in place to avoid precisely what happened at ADT. That means as long as you stay current with app and device updates, you should have little to fear of being hacked via software or firmware vulnerabilities. Major professionally monitored security systems - and even individually sold cameras from reputable developers like Google Nest and Wyze - include high-end encryption (which scrambles messages within a system and grants access through keys) almost across the board. Is my home security system at risk for hacking?īefore jumping into solving the problems of device insecurity, it's helpful to understand how vulnerable your devices really are. Whether you're using professionally monitored security systems such as ADT, Comcast Xfinity or Vivint, or you just have a few stand-alone cameras from off-the-shelf companies like Ring, Nest or Arlo, here are a few practices that can help protect your device security and data privacy. That simple discovery, and her report of it to the company, began to topple a long line of dominoes leading back to a technician who had spied, over the course of four and a half years, on hundreds of customers - watching them live their private lives, undress and even have sex.ĪDT says it has closed the loopholes that technician exploited, implementing "new safeguards, training and policies to strengthen … account security and customer privacy." But invasions of privacy are not unique to ADT, and some vulnerabilities are harder to safeguard than others. For example, in 2020, an ADT home security customer noticed an unfamiliar email address connected to her home security account, a professionally monitored system that included cameras and other devices inside her home. Installing an internet-connected security camera in your house won't necessarily bring a wave of hackers to your Wi-Fi network - but it also has happened before. This story is part of Home Tips, CNET's collection of practical advice for getting the most out of your home, inside and out. ![]()
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