A series of security breaches have alarmed Ring Doorbell owners. After all, no one wants a Strange hackers are watching and talking to their children in their own home. The reports that have been growing about multiple hacks around the Ring Doorbell have people questioning what, if anything, can be done to improve the security of their devices.
After all, the original purpose of smart doorbells was to improve home security — not to invite hackers into the house.
The good news is that you can take many steps to improve the security of Amazon Ring and protect yourself. Ring addressed the attacks in an email it sent to users and assured them there had been no major breach of Ring’s database or network, which means the problem is most likely. lies in the individual security methods of the targeted families.
This article will walk you through how to make your Amazon Ring Doorbell more secure than ever, as well as offer some recommendations on how to improve your overall cybersecurity.
Table of Contents
Turn on two-factor authentication
One 2017 study from Duo found that only 28% of people use two-factor authentication (2FA.) Two-factor authentication means that after you enter your username and password, you’ll be prompted for a code sent to your mobile device your move. This code changes each time and makes your login much more secure, but even SMS messages can be hacked.
There are physical forms of two-factor authentication that are much harder to breach. Many people skip 2FA because they believe it takes longer, but it only adds a few seconds to the sign-in process — and if someone tries to log in, you’ll know from a text message your phone received.
Check if your information has been leaked
Security leaks happen all the time. Even if you personally have taken all the necessary precautions, if a website you frequent is compromised your information could fall into the wrong hands.
Enter your email address on the website haveibeenpwned.com to find out if it was part of any known data breaches in the past few years. If so, chances are your password has also been compromised.
Change your password often
The idea of changing a new password frequently is quite exhausting, especially if you practice proper security principles for creating passwords. However, due to the frequency of data leaks, changing your password regularly helps keep your account secure.
You should change your password every 90 days at most, but changing it for a new password every 30 days isn’t out of the question. Doing this will greatly improve the security of your Amazon Ring.
Use a unique, strong and different password for each account
Many people use the same password (or similar variations of it) for every online account they have. While this is certainly more convenient, it leaves holes in your cybersecurity wide enough to drive a truck through.
There are several steps involved in creating a strong password that, if done correctly, will be virtually impossible to remember. Write it down in a notebook, but don’t store it on your PC.
- The first step is to create a password of at least 16 characters. Longer is better.
- Avoid using any personal information in the password, such as your name, address, date of birth, or other readily available information.
- Never use your username in a password.
- You should create a password that is a combination of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Don’t use a single word for your password to avoid dictionary attacks and make sure to avoid any common substitutions (like “4” for “a” or “5” for “s”). Preferably random, or use something like a sentence password generation method.
Make sure that any online accounts you use have different and complex passwords, and don’t reuse passwords from other accounts. Keep your Ring Doorbell password separate from your other accounts, and the chance that someone can access it and circumvent your Amazon Ring security is greatly reduced.
Use a different username for each account
Just as you should use a separate password for every account, you should also use a different username and email. Think of it like investing in stocks — the more diversified your portfolio, the lower the risk.
While using separate email addresses makes the process more complicated, it also makes your information and personal data infinitely more secure.
Do not use third-party devices
Securing your entire home network is only as strong as its weakest link. If you own any generic third-party devices, think twice before connecting them to your home network.
These devices, especially if manufactured by unknown companies, may not meet the required cybersecurity standards and may be particularly vulnerable to hackers. Only connect devices from companies you trust to your home network.
Even then, follow the other steps outlined above to make sure every device is as protected as possible. The last thing you want is to open your Amazon Ring security to vulnerabilities because of a single product.
To improve the security of your Amazon Ring, focus on the basics. By improving on basic cyber security practices, every device on your network becomes more secure. Ring Doorbell has strong encryption, but it’s only as useful as your personal security. Without strong, unique passwords, two-factor authentication, and the use of smart devices, hackers can gain access to even the most secure networks.
