Protect Your Home: How Ring Doorbells Are Being Used in Cyber Attacks
HOME security gadgets like Ring doorbells are increasingly being targeted by cyber crooks and their nasty phishing campaigns. Cybersecurity experts at Trustwave have warned Ring customers – and owners of similar gadgets from other brands – that home security tech is being used against the people its supposed to protect.
###Ring Doorbell Cyber Threats
“Scams are so common these days, the ability for an email scam to be both broad and detailed has changed,” Ed Williams of Trustwave, tells Central Recorder. “Add in the flexibility and sheer power of generative AI and it becomes likely that a phishing attack or scam will be successful.”
Phishing Attacks on Home Security Gadgets
Breaking into the gadgets themselves is tricky, so hackers have resorted to using web-based attacks against home security owners.
False Urgency Phishing Tactics
Phishing emails are used to tease sensitive information out of customers. Dodgy emails are also warning innocent recipients of an impending suspension of their Ring account, citing outdated membership information. It’s this kind of false urgency that tricks people into giving away important information that can leave their accounts – and gadgets – at risk. These phishing messages often include a file attachment that hosts a malicious link.
###Protecting Your Ring Doorbell
Password Protection
Trustwave has suggested three ways Ring customers can keep their accounts – and their cameras – protected. A 20 character-long random password containing uppercase and lowercase letters, symbols, and numbers is the most secure you can get. “Users should make sure that their monitoring cameras are properly secured with a strong unique password that is not reused with other services or accounts,” says Williams.
Secure Wi-Fi Network
“Similarly, make sure your wireless network is similarly secured,” added Williams. Ensure you’re not making these five easy – but hugely risky – security mistakes with your internet router.
Regular Updates
“Finally, keep your camera patched and up to date,” explains Williams. “If the product has the option for automatic updates, turn it on.” This means your gadgets have the security software up-to-date, and there are no back-door bugs that let hackers sneak in.
Central Recorder has contacted Ring for comment.