Disturbing finding on my smart phone

[yungman]

I installed the Ring Spot Camera, it worked for a few days and stopped working, I contacted Ring, they came back and said they notice my camera is off-lined!

How can they know? Are they monitor my phone and activity? Can they get into my wi-fi and get into my computers that contain more important information?

I am very careful not to put anything important on the smart phone, no bank account, not even my important email account. I only put my play email account on it. I don't even put my address and use the near by store address. Can they find out where I live by my phone?

This is quite disturbing.

 

[jedishrfu]

The camera uploads videos of suspicous movement to its website that's how your phone can access and view the videos. You aren’t talking to the home camera directly but through a common website.

The real business model here is to offer more disk space for longer video retentions and perhaps even event monitoring as well as to let you know what’s going on.

 

[yungman]

Oh, you mean the camera is NOT talking to my phone directly over the wi-fi, it actually sent the video to Ring company, then they send it back to me? That's kind of stupid!

It only tape 30 sec.

Thanks

 

[jedishrfu]

Yes, but that’s how you’re able to view it at work or when you’re away from home.

 

[yungman]

OK, it makes sense. So it's not like they can get into my computers through the wi-fi?

 

[jedishrfu]

I wouldn’t say that since the ring is on your network. However, I think other kinds of hacks would more likely penetrate it.

It’s always best to be cautious, conservative and take periodic backup always holding onto a secondary backup or whatever scheme you can devise. The secondary is to cover the ransomware attack where they could corrupt your more recent backups.

 

[yungman]

I use Norton protecting my computers, is that good enough? I don't have any anti virus on my phone, I don't know where to start in protecting the phone other than I don't play games, I don't serve the internet with the phone.

 

[jedishrfu]

No, you need to backup your phone to your computer and your computer to a removable hard drive or a backup service like carbonite.

Antivirus and malware can only protect against known threats but threats evolve faster than the software designed to protect against it so you need a backup plan too.

 

[yungman]

Yes, I do back up my computers. So having the Ring is not increase the threat.

Thanks

 

[WWGD]

Is it save to use some email services, e.g., hotmail to send yourself files? Are Microsoft's/Google's etc. severs likely to be hacked?

 

[phinds]

Is it save to use some email services, e.g., hotmail to send yourself files? Are Microsoft's/Google's etc. severs likely to be hacked?

Since they've both already BEEN hacked, I'd say yeah, it's likely.

 

[jedishrfu]

There are just too many ways that a determined hacker can get at your stuff. Nothing is safe.

Google has introduced Yubikey to its employees and has greatly reduced hacking attacks on their people.

Yubikey is a physical dongle that you connect to your USB port and that insures that you are the one using the computer. It’s better than two factor.

 

[WWGD]

Since they've both already BEEN hacked, I'd say yeah, it's likely.

Yes, but I frame it slightly different: Are they more likely to be hacked or have their servers crash than I am?

 

[phinds]

Yes, but I frame it slightly different: Are they more likely to be hacked or have their servers crash than I am?

Yes. They are a big target, you are a small target, so they are way more likely to be hacked.

 

[WWGD]

Yes. They are a big target, you are a small target, so they are way more likely to be hacked.

True, but OTOH they have top-of-the-line security experts taking care of the servers. I have some 30hrs (3 credits) worth of training in back up and support.

 

[WWGD]

Sorry, don't mean to be big-mouthed here, specially in a topic of which I am ignorant. Please let me know if I am not making sense here.

 

[phinds]

True, but OTOH they have top-of-the-line security experts taking care of the servers. I have some 30hrs (3 credits) worth of training in back up and support.

Yes, and they have probably several thousand enthusiastic hackers trying to get into their systems and you very likely have none. ONE if you are very unlucky.

 

[yungman]

There are just too many ways that a determined hacker can get at your stuff. Nothing is safe.

Google has introduced Yubikey to its employees and has greatly reduced hacking attacks on their people.

Yubikey is a physical dongle that you connect to your USB port and that insures that you are the one using the computer. It’s better than two factor.

How does Yubikey work? You mean you have to keep it with you and plug into the computer every time you use the computer?

 

[phinds]

How does Yubikey work? You mean you have to keep it with you and plug into the computer every time you use the computer?

Your choice. They have a version that's specifically designed to be just left in the computer. Google is your friend by the way.

 

[harborsparrow]

I just assume that somewhere above people mentioned this, but it is now known that Ring was indeed illegally (without permission) monitoring people's cameras.

https://bgr.com/2019/01/10/ring-camera-customer-feeds-accessed-creepy-privacy-violation/