October 20, 2025
In 2020, a Mississippi family had a chilling experience: their
eight-year-old daughter heard a man's voice in her bedroom, but it wasn't her
dad. A hacker had broken into the family's Ring camera, taunted her, and even
played music through the device until her parents rushed in to unplug it.
Ring later confirmed the breach was caused by reused login credentials
from another compromised account.
It's unsettling, but not rare. And it's a wake-up call for both families
and businesses.
The Promise (and Peril) of Smart
Devices
Smart cameras and connected devices have exploded in popularity because
they're affordable and convenient. For small businesses, they're an easy way to
boost security, monitoring entryways, inventory rooms, or after-hours activity.
But here's the catch: if these devices aren't secured properly, they can
do more harm than good.
- Low-cost models often skip
security safeguards like encryption or regular software updates.
- Default settings make easy
targets such as unchanged passwords, outdated firmware, or unsecured WiFi.
- Compromised devices can expose
more than footage sometimes opening doors into your wider business network.
What to Look for in a Secure Smart
Camera
Not all devices are created equal. Before you buy, or while reviewing
what you already own, make sure your devices:
- Come from reputable brands with
regular security updates.
- Encrypt video before sending it
to the cloud.
- Offer two-factor authentication
for logins.
- Provide local storage options
alongside cloud backups.
How to Set Them Up Safely
Even the best devices are only as secure as their setup. To minimize
risk:
- Change default usernames and
passwords immediately.
- Enable automatic updates for
firmware and apps.
- Segment your network so smart
devices don't share WiFi with business critical systems.
- Harden your router with the
strongest security settings available.
It's Not Just Cameras
Doorbells, thermostats, and even voice assistants can become backdoors
into your business if they aren't secured. For small businesses, that could
mean exposure of customer data, financial records, or other sensitive
information.
The more "smart" devices you connect, the more important it becomes to
manage them carefully.
Smart Can Still Be Safe
Smart cameras and connected devices can absolutely make life easier and
workplaces safer—but only if they're configured with security in mind. A few
proactive steps today can keep your gadgets from becoming hackers' favorite
entry point.
👉 Want peace of mind that your devices
are secure? Schedule a free discovery call and let us help
review your setup before hackers do it for you.
By Bryan Christensen
