How do baby cameras jeopardize our privacy? Experts warned

ÖMÜR KURT

[email protected]

Social media posts about Wi-Fi-enabled baby cameras being connected to a wireless network and monitoring the inside of homes are increasing day by day.

In one of the events described, one of the children ran to his parents in fear and crying and said, "There is a man talking in the room." They could not understand this situation at first, but when they noticed the laughter coming from the camera's speaker, they immediately pulled the plug. What if it's just watching but not making any sound? What should be done then? I asked the experts on the subject.

YOUR PRIVACY MAY BE AT RISK

Elçin Biren (Cyber security expert): The real risk in the baby camera is not in the brand on the box, but in the manufacturer behind it. The same hardware can be sold under more than 300 brand names. The name changes, the vulnerability inside remains the same. In May, we saw tangible results: More than 1 million baby cameras were remotely accessible using the infrastructure of a single Chinese manufacturer. The risk is not only the seizure of the camera, but also the disclosure of image, sound and domestic privacy to third parties.

So what should families look for when choosing a device? The safety record of the manufacturer before the brand. Are the update policy, support period and vulnerability reporting channel clearly stated on the site? Are two-step verification and local registration options offered?

Onur Binay (Technology editor): When Wi-Fi connected baby cameras are not installed correctly, they can pose a serious privacy risk since they are devices that transmit images and sound from inside the house. Of course, this does not mean that "every camera with Wi-Fi feature is dangerous". What is important is the security infrastructure of the preferred product and the settings made by the user/parent. My first suggestion to parents is to choose products from well-known brands that publish security updates regularly. Cameras that are very cheap and whose manufacturer or software support is unknown can be risky. It is necessary to look at whether the camera encrypts data, whether the application supports two-step verification, and how long the manufacturer offers software/security updates.

MAKE SURE TO CHANGE THE DEFAULT PASSWORD AFTER INSTALLATION

Onur Binay: After installation, the default password of the camera should be changed, a strong password should be determined and, if possible, two-step verification should be turned on. The camera's software and mobile application should also be kept constantly updated. On the home side, if possible, separating smart home devices from the main Wi-Fi network to which computers and phones are connected and connecting them to a separate guest network can provide a higher layer of security. For families who want high privacy, baby monitors that do not connect to the internet at all, have their own screen, and only transmit the image locally can be a good alternative. When buying a camera, you need to look not only at image quality, night vision or price, but also features such as security updates, encryption, two-step verification and where the data is kept.

OPEN A 'GUEST NETWORK' ON YOUR HOME INTERNET

Elçin Biren: After installation, the camera must be connected to a separate “guest network”. The administrator password of the modem and the default password of the camera must be changed. Automatic updating should be turned on and unnecessary port forwarding should not be done. The camera should only see the area needed and should be turned off when not in use. As the child grows, the question must be asked again: Is this camera still really needed? Technology established for security should not turn into a system where constant monitoring is considered normal.

TRY IT AT HOME

autumn notebook

Prepare an autumn notebook with the children this week. Write down the photos you took in autumn, tree barks, leaves, pictures you drew, and your thoughts about autumn in this notebook. Thus, children will better understand the value of the seasons and discover the differences.

BOOK OF THE WEEK

“Ezo and Samba Pajama Party” is a very entertaining book that allows children to discover shadows.

Author: Ezo Sunal

Publisher: Masalperest

Age: 6+

Page: 24

EVENT OF THE WEEK

Anatolian Civilizations Museum

Children should get to know the cultural past of Anatolia, which is home to many civilizations.

Location: Ankara-Anatolian Civilizations Museum

Date: Open every day

Time: 08.30-18.30

Contact: (0312) 324 31 60

SONG OF THE WEEK

This week, listen to Dan Brown's "Animal Symphony" with your children and grandchildren and chat about this composition.