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Guide
Keep your cameras private: passwords, two-factor and updates
Protect a home camera with a unique long password, two-factor login on the camera account, and automatic firmware updates. Give family their own accounts rather than sharing yours, and never open ports on your router to reach the camera. These steps stop most break-ins to camera accounts.
The common ways accounts get hacked
Most camera breaches are not clever. Passwords are reused from another website that leaked, defaults are never changed, or an old camera has stopped receiving updates. Attackers try known passwords in bulk.
Five steps that matter
- Use a unique password of 12 or more characters, ideally from a password manager.
- Turn on two-factor login in the app.
- Switch on automatic updates for the camera and the router.
- Give each family member their own invitation, not your login.
- Remove old users and old phones when people leave.
Router settings
Avoid port forwarding. It exposes a camera directly to the internet. Use the manufacturer's app or a secure remote-access service instead. Keep the router's own admin password changed from the default.
Buying choices
Prefer brands that publish security updates and support their devices for years. A very cheap camera with no update path is a weak link. If you are unsure, ask us before buying.
Common question
Is cloud storage safe?
It can be, if the account has a strong password and two-factor login. The risk is the account, so protect it as you would online banking.
Related services
Want this looked at?
Photos and postcode to hello@maidstonesecurity.co.uk, call 07763 100 477, or open WhatsApp. Same-day reply in most cases.