A really interesting question was raised at a meeting I attended. When installing security items like Video Doorbells, wireless Alarm systems, do we cover the necessity to ensure passwords are really good, because they understood, these have recently been hacked. I had not heard this. I assisted my son to instal his video doorbell, which is protected, as part of his home Internet network, which is of course password protected. I am not sure what the situation is re wireless Home Alarm systems - So I have asked our NHW Volunteer IT Guru Paul Hay, to come up with some advice.
Hi
There have been a number of stories and issues around the misuse of Ring devices. It is not just the ones that face outwards, like the doorbells, but also those that have monitoring cameras inside the house. Technically, the Ring device itself isn’t being hacked. What is happening is that the bad guys are logging into the Ring Customers online account remotely, to get access to their devices.
The reason for this is that many people use the same password for different online services. So if there is a data breach on another system which is then leaked, and that leaked information includes the same password used on their Ring account, the bad person has the ability to log into the Ring Customers account and monitor their cameras.
So what people should do is follow good practice for their account credentials:
Use a unique strong password for their Ring Account. This should be one not used anywhere else.
Do not share your password with other people (e.g. don’t share it with the dog sitter so they can check in with your camera to monitor your dog)
Set up 2 factor authentication. This means that as well as a password, when they log in it will ask them for a second method to prove it is them. A lot of banks are starting to enforce this by wanting to send a code to a mobile phone which you also need to use before it lets you into your account.
Here are a couple of articles by the National Cyber Security Centre which talks about securing Internet connected cameras
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/guidance/smart-security-cameras-using-them-safely-in-your-home:
https://www.ncsc.gov.uk/news/consumers-urged-secure-internet-connected-cameras Here is a link to help create strong passwords:
https://computing.which.co.uk/hc/en-gb/articles/360000818025-How-to-create-secure-passwords Here is a link to set up 2-Factor Authentication on Ring devices:
https://support.ring.com/hc/en-gb/articles/360024818291-Using-two-factor-security-authentication-with-your-Ring-products I hope this helps ?
Paul
As always, our grateful thanks to Paul, for some clear and easy to understand advice.
NEXT: A burglary in Windsor:
6/3 Friday 11.30 a.m. / midnight - Bulkeley Avenue. Burglary. Point of entry - rear door left unlocked. Untidy search. Not yet known if anything stolen - repeat victim. The elderly aggrieved requested a Home Security Survey, which was carried out by PCSO Isabel Santa Cruz-Machin. She recommended and installed Windsor shock alarms and is requesting various other items, to be physically attached to the building. As this aggrieved lives in a Housing Association property, their consent will have to obtained, before anything can be ‘attached’ to the building.
We are running this initiative closely with Neighbourhood Watch and we are really grateful and appreciative, for their involvement. If Crime Prevention items can be installed immediately by the PCSO attending to carry out the Home security Survey, they do it on the spot. If other items, such as door chains / door bars, spyholes / door viewers etc. are required, we pass the referral to John Diack, the Chair of the Maidenhead NHW Association. He makes contact with the nearest NHW Co-ordinator, who goes along with Tony Drye, our volunteer builder, to carry out the installation - we are really grateful to Tony, for volunteering to do this, to help the community. If the PCSO feels you could afford the simple safety items, they will signpost where you can buy them. We, working closely with NHW, aim is to assist the most vulnerable in the community, to make them safe. For a Home Security Survey, please email:
HomeSecuritySurveyRequests@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk CRIME
MAIDENHEAD CENTRAL:
maidenheadcentralnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.uk7/3 Saturday midnight / 4.50 p.m. Holmanleaze. CAR ENTERED BY UNKNOWN MEANS - cash stolen.
5/3 - 6/3 Thursday 7 p.m. / Friday 8 a.m. Thames Crescent. Catalytic converter stolen from under a car. A Lexus RX400.
RIVERSIDE & BELMONT:
5/3 - 6/3 Thursday 10.30 p.m. / Friday 6 a.m. Ray Mill Road East. CAR ENTERED BY UNKNOWN MEANS - Zara puffa jacket and contents stolen including bank cards.
MAIDENHEAD WEST
maidenheadwestnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukBISHAM,
COOKHAM, HURLEY, THE WALTHAMS, LITTLEWICK GREEN & KNOWL HILL:
6/3 - 9/3 Friday 5 p.m./ Monday 7.45 a.m. Quarrywood Road, Cookham. Burglary, house being renovated. Machinery and tools stolen.
4/3 - 6/3 Wednesday noon / Friday 9.30 a.m. Farm, Bath Road, Littlewick Green. 100 yards of fencing pulled out and thrown down the roadside.
6/3 Friday 4 p.m. Dean Lane, Cookham. Attempted car break in - no entry gained and nothing stolen. A witness saw a battered white van pull up beside the car. A man got out and managed to open the car door without causing any damage. The alarm sounded and the man immediately got back in the van and drove off.
PINKNEYS GREEN & FURZE PLATT:
6/3 - 7/3 Friday midnight / Saturday 10.30 a.m. White paddock. Car windscreen smashed.
6/3 Friday 2.45 p.m. / 4.40 p.m. Moor Lane. Car rear passenger window smashed - back pack & contents stolen.
MAIDENHEAD SOUTH
maidenheadsouthnhpt@thamesvalley.pnn.police.ukBOYN HILL, COX GREEN & WOODLANDS PARK:
7/3 Saturday 9.50 p.m. Greenfields. Window damaged by what looks like a BB gun pellet.
OLDFIELD, BRAY & HOLYPORT:
5/3 - 6/3 Thursday 8 p.m. / Friday 8 a.m. The fairway. Car broken into and cash stolen. The headlight was also smashed.
8/3 Sunday 5.30 p.m. / 8.15 p.m. Larchfield Road. Silver BMW K1200 index MF ** EOX stolen from the road.
