We are entering the very beginning of “the internet of things”. The simplest explanation of what that means is that there are now several appliances and electronics that are constantly connected to the internet through Wi-Fi. The purpose is to make life more convenient.
Unfortunately, sometimes this interconnectedness can cause security issues. A family discovered this in a very unpleasant way when their nanny noticed that someone had hacked their baby monitor. A stranger was able to talk to, and see, the room the baby was in, the baby, and the nanny who was caring for the infant.
How did this scary situation happen? The parents selected a baby monitor that had a camera on it. The parents were using the camera to check in on their baby while they were at work.
The baby monitor allowed the parents to use their smartphones to see, and hear, their infant daughter whenever they wanted to. Ironically, the camera, which can be remotely controlled to allow the parents to survey their baby’s entire room (and down the hallway) was designed as a safety feature.
The hack was discovered when the nanny heard “strange noises” coming from the baby’s room. She went in to check on the baby and started changing the baby’s diaper. A male voice came from the baby monitor. This stranger told the nanny that the baby was cute. He also described the contents of the diaper that that nanny was changing.
How was that possible? It turns out that many baby monitors, that have cameras and that can be connected to the internet, have security flaws. It has been said that “the internet of things” is going to open up security problems of the type that most people would not even think to check on. This incident is not the first time a hacker decided to tap into a baby monitor. Once a hacker gets in, they may be able to access other things that are connected to your Wi-Fi (like smartphone or computer).
What can parents do to prevent their baby monitor from being hacked? One solution is to buy a baby monitor that lacks the technology required to connect it to Wi-Fi or the internet.
Another option is to read the manual that comes with the baby monitor and learn how to turn off the camera. What if you really want to use the camera so you can check on your baby while you are working? In that case, you need to make sure you register the baby monitor and keep up with security updates. It’s also a good idea to pick a password that is different from the passwords you use on your other devices.
Image by Ivan David Gomez Arce on Flickr.
Related Articles at Families.com:
* Product Review: Baby Monitor
* Baby Safety Seminar? Part II