Security is one of the most critical aspects that homeowners critically evaluate before settling on any provider. Over the years, several companies have come up, each claiming to offer the best and most effective security solutions.
And while some measured up to the expectations, others failed. One of them, Ring, has been involved in multiple security scandals that question its legitimacy as a security company. Several Ring users, including an 8-year old girl in Mississippi, have been victims of harassment courtesy of this technology.
The real question here is, can you tell if someone is surveilling you via Ring doorbell?
Here is how you can tell if someone is watching you on the Ring doorbell
Regularly, this camera won’t light up. The only time it flashes a blue light is when it detects any movement nearby or recording. So, if your doorbell has been blinking more than usual, it is time to check your security settings and see if there is a second set of eyes behind your camera.
Knowing that this software does not have end-to-end encryption, it is easy for an intruder to hack the system.
Before I show you how you can tell when someone is watching your activities using your Ring doorbell, let us find out what Ring is and how it works.
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Ring explained
Ring is an American security business that specializes in providing home surveillance solutions. CCTV cameras, Wi-Fi routers, smart lighting, and other ring accessories are some of the top products this company spawns.
The one item that has led to controversy surrounding its name is the smart doorbell, Ring. This small tool has a camera and audio fixtures embedded in it. These are useful in helping the homeowner identify anyone that is near a 4-meter radius within the device’s vicinity.
The camera is great for identifying the person visiting, while the audio features help the user converse with strangers at the door. Aside from giving you a great view of who is outside your door, this camera also records activities within your surroundings 24/7.
Surprisingly, you do not need much to power your security tool to life. A connection to an electric source coupled up with a stable internet connection suffices to jumpstart Ring. Most people know Ring from its hay days.
But before Ring became a household name, it was a small company that was fighting to have a space in the security realm among the bigwigs. Jamie Siminoff, the founder of this company, worked hard to turn his dream into something better.
However, in early 2018, he figured it would be more profitable if he sold it to an investor. A conversation with Amazon’s founder, Jeff Bezos, landed him a $2 billion contract if he sold his idea to the multi-billion entrepreneur.
The company is worth billions and has manufactured more security products. And even though its success is becoming widespread, concerns of its incapability to secure its users are on the rise. What happens if yours is hacked?
How can you tell someone is watching your every move? Here are the top ways to discover if there are more administrators in your home security doorbell.
Can a ring doorbell be hacked?
Hacks are the leading cause of failure in security systems in the USA. The Ring has not been spared from this brunt, now that some of its clients are complaining about leaked data and unauthorized people spying on them using the Ring camera.
It seems that snooping on unsuspecting Ring users is the most recent trend that people are experiencing. Thanks to the internet of things, it is easy to intercept your doorbell if a hacker can access the network you use.
The IP address and information about your internet provider are the top details that can help intruders breach security around your home. A little coding will have them operating the camera as the owner. Your Wi-Fi password is also another loophole that can be used to compromise your security.
How do you tell someone is watching you on Ring doorbell?
With cases of security breaches rising each day, it is important to secure yourself and your loved ones from such attempts. What happens when someone remotely accesses your camera? How do you know that you are under surveillance? Take a look at the easiest ways to note anything fishy concerning Ring.
Unusual Sounds Coming from Your Camera’s Microphone
Ring is one of the many cameras that have a microphone in them. This tiny fixture comes in handy when you want to talk to someone who is on the other end of the system.
Whether it’s a delivery man or a visitor that’s coming to see you, you can effortlessly identify them using this feature from wherever you are, as long as you have an internet connection. On a typical day, the only sounds you should hear from the recording device are those of nearby animals, people, or vehicles.
If you hear anything unusual, it could mean that someone is controlling your security device remotely. Shuffling, conversations, falling objects, and other sounds that aren’t familiar to you are some of the noises you will hear when someone is spying on you.
If you notice this, the first thing you should do is reset the device and activate factory settings. Hold down the back button on the doorbell’s front (for ring 2) or the back button on the camera’s right side (for ring pro). Press the button for 20 seconds, then release it, and you will be good to go.
Changed Security Settings
When you get this security item, you have to download the Ring app on your phone. The application enables you to set the camera to work as you would want it to. In most cases, the security features come in the default setting.
Even so, most people prefer to tweak them a little to suit their preferences. Disabling the LED light when the device is on is one of the things that users do right after they get their Ring camera. The blinking light is also another one that they get rid of.
These features are disabled to make the device less conspicuous. However, when a hacker takes hold of the app, most of the time, they reset the features to suit their liking. Since they are probably stalking you, resetting the camera to blink every time you are around is the first thing they do.
You have to be super keen when observing the features. Note everything that you have enabled or disabled so that when someone else makes any changes, you will notice the change instantly.
Flashing LED Light Even When There is No Motion Nearby
The Ring doorbell by Amazon blinks when there is motion near it. This is a way of alerting you that you have company. Sometimes, black hackers can reset the settings and make the camera blink all day and night.
This is an indicator that they are recording activities that take place within the camera’s vicinity. Resetting the camera or erasing data on the app easily works in such instances.
Spiked Data Flow into the Security Network
Checking your network data flow helps you to keep track of how much data the security camera consumes each hour or day. When someone accesses your camera remotely, they will most likely rely on your internet to transmit the videos.
It means there will be an influx in network traffic. If you are keen enough, you will discover the changes and take action to secure your security system immediately.
Denied Access to the System
If you have tried accessing the application but cannot sign in, it may mean that someone else has control of it. They may have changed the password and locked you out of your security system.
Can people spy on you with Ring doorbell?
Once a hacker gains access to your camera, it is easy to monitor your every move. The main way they succeed in this is by recording everything you do. If you have other cameras linked to RIng, they can easily hack them too and spy on everything you record.
Your linked phones and laptops are some of the other things they can use to spy on you. Considering that they may also have a hold of your internet provider, a person that wants to stalk you can also access other third-party accounts such as social sites if they have already hacked your security camera.
What should be your response when you discover this breach?
Your response to the breach depends on the severity. However, resetting the app and the camera back to factory settings should be the first thing you do. Each version of this camera has a black button either on the frontal area or on the right side of the camera.
Pressing for 20 seconds will automatically reset the device to its initial state. Deleting all data from the Ring application will also help you achieve this status, Keep in mind that erasing information from the app is permanent and irreversible.
Sources
www.washingtonpost.com: A hacker accessed it and harassed her 8-year-old daughter.
How Ring’s Founder Created A Doorbell Worth $1 Billion To Amazon
How to reset your Ring doorbell or remove it from your account
