Camera hacked and being watched

[Pinky333777]

I'm posting really because I'm still a little shocked.

We have a little wireless ip security camera connected to our router via an ethernet cable.

For months now I've on occasion seen the infared lights around the edge come on, or the camera has moved 'by itself'.
I've always assumed it was my partner checking the house, which it sometimes was. Other times he denied it was him
I shrugged it off as either him or a glitch.

Today a stranger spoke to me via the camera.
I was so surprised I just asked "What do you think you're doing?!"
He replied "Watching you"
I didn't know what to do/think so I just said rather sternly "Well, don't!" And unplugged the camera.

Apparently these types of camera are very easy to hack and it happens more often than you think.
It's made me wary as a lot of people use them to keep an eye on their children.
We had one bought for us for our new baby when he arrives.
I'll certainly be upping our internet security and paying a lot more attention to camera's being in a different position to where I thought it was!

Has this happened to anyone else?
I'd also appreciate any security tips please.
All I know to do for now is change passwords. Is this enough?

Hi Op,

I haven't experienced this but had to reply as I'm really shocked. I have a 4.5 month old girl and we have bought a baby monitor with camera and I think my other half checked it couldn't be hacked but after reading your post I will check again. Gosh what did your partner say? When your baby comes along clearly you don't want this happening again. I can send you details of the monitor we bought if that helps? On reflection at least you know that the equipment can be tampered with but a scary way to find out sadly

Well, my dp for some reason when setting it up after a house move didn't bother to use a password, leaving it with the default username and password making it an easy target 😡
As far as I know just changing the username and password should be secure enough, so I wouldn't worry about your baby cam if your hubby has checked it xxxx

Hi there, I've just checked and he said don't use ones that connect to the internet. Ours doesn't so its perfectly safe basically companies make this equipment that connects online so you can check at work etc via the internet for ease, but the companies don't understand internet security that's why they can be hacked. Not sure if that advice helps but changing the password might help, but I would get more advice before using it again (just in case)..

That's an awful thing to happen. That must have been such a shock! But unfortunately it's a risk you take when you use wireless cameras, toys etc. I'd avoid those.

I have one to check on my dog whilst we are out. Scary stuff.

How did he speak through the camera?

Crikey that's a bit creepy.

Rebel, it has a mic and speaker, so when viewing through the app you can talk via the camera.

We got it to keep an eye on our mischievous kitty cat 😊
I have a tech friend looking at it at the moment. If there's a way to make it more secure, he'll know x

Creepy as duck.

if anybody hacks ours, they'll have a wonderful view of our car parked on the road outside - nothing more exciting than that!

Well EggysMom that'll tell them if you're likely to be at home, or out, won't it? Or do you have several cars?

A few years ago I saw a news clip of Facebook zuckerberg on his lap top, the camera had a strip of gaffer tape over it.
So I googled a bit and he does it to all his camera tech.
It's the only guaranteed way apparently to ensure security.

Pinky excellent news on the techie guy! There are some scary people out there at least that stalker brought it to light before your little one arrived home (blessing in disguise) x

Eurgh that is so so creepy, poor you OP it must have given you a shock. We have the cameras taped on our laptops and don't use an internet connected baby monitor, DP is paranoid about hacking/spying tech and I was always sceptical but went along with it, I'm glad we did now!

I read a horrible news article some time ago about baby cams being hacked - a parent heard awful sexual things being said to their child. As it happened the child was deaf, so wasn't aware of what was happening.

I'm fairly sure the problem mostly arises where default user names and passwords haven't been changed, but I expect a determined hacker could get round that if they wanted to expend the effort.

What make of camera was it?? Yobe got me worried I have a nest camera that connects to the internet! 😳