How to Tell If Your Security Camera Has Been Hacked and How to Prevent It

Security cameras are meant to safeguard your privacy and prevent unexpected events in the first place. However, hacked IP cameras have been common cases nowadays, and some people behind the curtain are trying to gain unauthorized access to spy on private spaces.

If you have security cameras at home, you'd better think over this question - how to tell if your security camera has been hacked? This post will reveal some telltale signs of hacked security cameras and the feasible ways to prevent security/IP camera hacks. Now, let's take a deep dive into the following.

Recognize the 5 Signs That Your Security Camera Has Been Hacked

Here come the suspicious signs indicating that your security camera has been hacked. Some are obvious to be perceived while others may take effort to dig out. Please read on.

1. Your IP Camera Is Making Strange Sounds or Voices

Generally speaking, security cameras like IP cameras, baby monitors, or surveillance cameras should be silenced if you don't use the speaker. In rare cases, if hackers gain unauthorized access to the microphone of your security camera to eavesdrop or transmit audio, you may notice some unfamiliar voices or conversations from the area monitored by your camera. Therefore, this sign could indicate that your security camera has been hacked.

2. Your Security Camera is Rotating Abnormally

Security cameras should be held still and pointed at a specific area to get a clear picture. If you don't have a pet and still notice strange camera movements, you should be alerted. Check to see if the camera is panning across the room. If so, it may already have been hijacked and remotely controlled by hackers to spy on your room.

3. The LED Light is On and is Blinking or Flashing

Many security cameras have an LED light that illuminates when the camera is in use. However, if the LED light is blinking or flashing but you're not using it, it may be a clear indication that someone is remotely taking control of your security camera.

4. The Camera Security Settings Have Been Changed

If there are no obvious signs, check the security camera settings on your phone to see whether they have changed. If the profile has been changed or the account password has been changed, it's likely that your security camera has been hacked and you're now walking into a trap with no privacy. What's worse, some hackers will change your profile name to show off their IP camera hacks.

5. The Increased Data Usage of Security Camera

If everything stays the same, you can track the flow of data on your network. This is also an indication of whether your security camera has been hacked. Typically, your security camera's data usage should follow a similar pattern every day. In comparison, if there are sudden spikes in your network traffic, you may know that your security camera has been hacked.

How Can You Prevent Security Cameras from Being Hacked? (5 Ways)

Lucky to you if no telltale sign is found for your security camera. Also, it's always a good idea to prepare before the rain. Now you may want to take a look at some preventative ideas to keep your security camera safe from IP camera hacks in the future.

1. Use a Security Camera That Has In-Builds Advanced Encryption

Hackers might exploit vulnerabilities in the system to target security cameras. Therefore, it's important to consider a security camera like eufy camera 2C Pro with advanced encryption technologies such as SSL/TLS encryption, WPA2-AES encryption, etc. After guarding your camera with tip-top encryption to avoid hacked security cameras from happening, you can sit reassured from now on.

 2. Update the Firmware of Your IP Camera

Meanwhile, don't forget to keep pace with the latest firmware version of your security camera. Most of the time, the firmware release is aimed at fixing found bugs and glitches in the system, big or small. If you never upgrade the firmware, there will be a great vulnerability in system protection which is what hackers usually use to hack security cameras.

3. Change Your Security Camera Password to a Strong One

Some people might directly use the default username and password for the security camera. That's really risky because hackers will ping every device on the internet to automatically decrypt and hack into your device. So, you should change to a strong password with a combination of lower-case and upper-case letters, numbers, and special characters.

4. Enable 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) for Your Account

5. Limit the Devices That Can Access Your Home Network

In some cases, hackers might not manipulate your hacked security camera directly through your account. Instead, it's possible that your authorized device is compromised. Thus, it's suggested that you should grant limited access to your devices. Normally, two devices are enough. Even though you lost control of one, you would still make use of the other.

What to Do If Your Security Camera is Hacked?

There is no doubt that you'll be in a panic if your camera is proven to be hijacked. In this case, your privacy and security are in great danger. Despite that, don't be frustrated. The following solutions will show you what to do if your security camera is hacked.

1. Disconnect the camera from the network to prevent further unauthorized access.
2. Change the passwords for both the camera itself and any associated accounts immediately.
3. Download and install the latest firmware to patch vulnerabilities and bugs in the system.
4. Use fully-fledged antivirus software to scan all your devices to get rid of possible malware.
5. Secure your Wi-Fi network with a strong password using WPA2 or WPA3 encryption.
6. Consider upgrading to a new security camera with two-factor authentication and encryptions.
7. Reach out to the camera manufacturer's customer support during the guarantee period.

Conclusion

Now that you've learned how to tell if your security camera has been hacked, how to prevent IP camera hacks, and what to do if your security camera is hacked, be confident that you're already a master and take it easy to deal with any scenario. Whatever happens, this guide will lead you through the difficulties.