The Risky Business of Ring's Vulnerable Security
Jan 03, 2020
If you’re like the rest of Americans, you’ve noticed that the Ring Security company has been in the news lately— and not for anything useful. Between security hacks and lawsuits, the company has landed itself in hot water.
Surveillance Camera Hacks
Homeowners have security cameras installed in their homes to give them peace of mind when they are not able to see what is going on inside. But what happens when a stranger can access your security cameras? Unfortunately, that is what is happening for some Ring Security customers.
In early December, a family’s Ring camera that was installed in their children’s playroom was accessed by an unknown hacker. The hacker then spoke directly to the family’s 8-year-old daughter, using derogatory language and trying to persuade the girl to misbehave. This incident is not isolated, as several more customers have come forward with similar stories.
Are Ring cameras easy to hack?
There’s no denying that there has been a surge in hacked Ring accounts. Because Ring accounts do not require two-factor authentication by default, many customers are leaving themselves susceptible to hackers that use inexpensive password-cracking software. These programs work by using login credentials that have been compromised and shared on the dark web.
Ring’s Response
The Ring company did not release a statement addressing customers’ concerns until December 12th. Ring’s response was, “Recently, we were made aware of an incident where malicious actors obtained some Ring users’ account credentials (e.g., username and password) from a separate, external, non-Ring service and reused them to log into some Ring accounts.
Unfortunately, when people reuse the same username and password on multiple services, it’s possible for bad actors to gain access to many accounts.”
They then said that they have taken actions to block some hackers our of their system, but that their customers should update their passwords and enable two-factor authentication.
Holding Ring Responsible
Ring’s response did not sit well with some of their affected customers, and on December 26, 2019, a $5 million federal class-action lawsuit was filed against Ring and their parent company Amazon. The lawsuit alleges claims for negligence, invasion of privacy, breach of implied contract, breach of implied warranty, and unjust enrichment.
The lawsuit claims, “While Ring quickly attempted to distance itself from liability by blaming customers for failing to create strong security passwords, it is Ring who failed to provide sufficiently robust security measures such as two-factor authentication and other protocols necessary to maintain the integrity and inviolability of its cameras. As a result of Ring’s defective design, and its failure to imbue its Wi-Fi cameras with sufficient security protocols, its customers’ most basic privacy rights were violated along with the security and sanctity of their homes.”
How to Keep Yourself Protected
When it comes to your family’s safety and privacy, you want to make sure you are in good hands. Companies like Ring and Amazon are successful because they have enormous advertising budgets and can become more well-known by running their ads as much as they choose.
To avoid this trap, look for companies that have a history of putting customer privacy and satisfaction first. Reputable security companies have sophisticated security measures in place that can prevent hackers from getting in. Additionally, setting up professional monitoring is an inexpensive way to provide an additional layer of security. Our options start at only $27 per month for monitoring.
The security experts at FSS Technologies can help you determine what the best security system options are for your home and budget. Give us a call today to get protected.