New cyber threat: Hackers target baby monitors
Parents could be at risk of hackers gaining remote access to baby monitors in a bid to steal information, security experts warn.
Cyber thieves are gaining control of baby monitors over wifi, hoping to steal personal household information.
Danielle Person relies on a baby monitor to keep her son safe, but her eyes may not be the only ones watching nine-month-old Spencer.
Security expert Dr Mark Gregory says there are Australian families who have fallen victim to cyber stalkers.
“I know of people that have been hacked into, [into] their networks, and they have baby monitors on the network,” Dr Gregory said.
One US couple recently discovered someone watching their 10-month-old daughter sleep.
Heather Schrech heard a man screaming and saw the camera moving, realising that someone else was controlling the camera remotely.
There are two main types of baby monitors, those that monitor using their own frequency and those that are wifi enabled.
According to experts, both can be hacked if someone is close enough.
“If it’s the wifi enabled baby monitor and the security hasn't been set correctly, you can hack into it from outside the home from anywhere on the internet,” Dr Gregory said.
Criminals can infiltrate a wifi network in a bid to steal private information such as passwords and bank details.
“You do need to make sure that the software is up to date and that you change the password,” Tom Godfrey said.
“Don't just use the default password, because it's too easy to be hacked.”
Tips to deter hackers
• Change wifi and camera passwords
• Choose different passwords for wifi and camera
• Check manufacturer’s website regularly for updates
