The four security companies that receive the highest scores for data protection

Many vulnerabilities in security devices start right in the home. Live smart home hack Not as common as some people fear, but when devices Infected by botnetsThis is usually due to weak Wi-Fi encryption, and not using TFA And bad passwords. But it’s important to check how safe businesses are too.

It’s a big headache when you use a security company He had a massive data breachor has such poor internal security Employees can steal data or Spying through cameras. But where do you turn if cloud video and account theft is your biggest concern? Although no security company is perfect, some have much better track records than others when it comes to storing, processing, and protecting data, as well as Monitor vulnerabilities and correct them. Here are my top recommendations.

Read more: What the law says about police confiscating your home security videos

Ecobee

from Smart thermostats For external cameras, Ecobee It offers a range of smart home offerings – and the company still has an excellent track record when it comes to both Data security and privacy practicesWhich makes Ecobee a sure winner for those who are concerned about what happens to their data. It’s also one of the only companies to combine a live view security camera with a thermostat and smart speaker In one device.

The Canadian company has not experienced any major data breaches or other issues in its history, and makes decisions about data constantly Taking the privacy of its users into consideration. This includes not selling the information you collect, or sharing it with third parties for advertising or even analysis purposes unless You sign up for the Donta Your Data program. Ecobee also responded to Amazon when it requested more data via the Alexa capabilities found in some Ecobee devices, believing it It would violate customer trust. The letter W is rare, as they say.

Ecobee will also warn customers if they appear to be using account names or passwords used on other websites, which is a serious mistake many of us make. This not only keeps your data secure, but reduces the possibility that a data breach in some other service will impact Ecobee’s security.

With a lock

With a lock Offers a wide range of Smart locksincluding smart video locks that can capture videos like a smart doorbell. The brand’s practice of using local data storage when possible as well as 128-bit AES encryption has kept Lockly completely clean from successful hacks and data theft thus far. The company also uses independent tests conducted by cybersecurity assurance company LRQA, and relies on AWS servers located in the United States to store data. Among other privacy practices.

If you don’t like putting your video data in the cloud and are interested in a company with an excellent security record, Lockly is an easy recommendation. The downside is that the company specializes in front door hardware and Advanced smart safesso it is not a viable option for others Smart devices throughout the home.

flash

Amazon has two prominent security brands: Blink and Ring. They differ in many ways, but the notable difference is their security history. The episode has been plagued with abuses, Privacy claims and Cases of employees spying on customers. And I still recommend Some Ring devices Now that it has improved over the past several years, especially if you like it Turn off more invasive featuresbut in order to focus on pure privacy, flash It is an alternative day and night.

Amazon bought Blink as a startup in 2017, adding ownership of the company Security cameras and Video doorbells To her wallet. Since then, Blink has remained largely scandal-free, and no data breaches have occurred Or security lapses To threaten private information. The only notable vulnerability discovered in the cameras was in 2019 It was quickly corrected Before it becomes a threat.

Another point in Blink’s favor: Although the company offers cloud video storage, you can purchase a compatible console hub and plug in a USB drive To use local storage instead. While Blink also offers AI plans for video descriptions and daily summaries, it doesn’t have anything like Ring’s Neighbors platform for sharing video with police or… Let it be analyzed for other purposes.

However, keep in mind that Blink is still an Amazon brand, and Amazon will use what data it can for internal use. It may not be stolen, but it can still be used for targeted marketing. You may also want to avoid using integrated software Alexa capabilities If you’re worried about what the voice assistant will do with your data. Fortunately, voice assistants don’t add much value to security cameras anyway.

Relink

Reolink has long focused on security cameras that put all the power in the hands of their users, and they’re honest About the challenges of smart device security. The company is focusing on local storage via microSD card add-on options or Reolink NVRs. The company’s AI recognition is native to its cameras, too (similar to Eufy’s privacy-focused approach, though… It’s unfortunate that Eufy’s track record in data security is lacking).

Relink It has a strong history of protecting company data and working to keep customer data out of everyone’s reach, including plentiful offers Po options For those who want to avoid Wi-Fi completely. However, I will raise the flag One incident in 2021 Which exposed three Reolink P2P cameras to potential malicious access. This vulnerability appears to be unique to P2P cameras and has not been an issue since. Other than that, Reolink had no noticeable issues using AES and RSA encryption with AWS services and following TLS standards for cloud data.

What about Google Nest and Google Home?

I like it a lot nest/household productsbut Nest’s approach to security and privacy is a mixed bag. Similar to Amazon, so is Google Happy to collect as much data as possible He has been sued several times for violating privacy restrictions set by states and countries.

While Nest itself has remained largely free of vulnerabilities thanks to Google’s security policiesThere are a few notable issues that give me pause. There was that infamous incident early on Home speakers are accidentally eavesdropping on users In 2017 (something that has not happened since).

Recently, I found a study Those quick programs or quick injections of Gemini AI Can be used to control connected smart home devices. Essentially, the researchers found that they could hide AI commands in innocuous places (such as emails or the end of calendar event descriptions) that could control things like smart heating devices and smart locks. Google patched this issue before the researchers published their findings, but it’s still a sign of how connecting to AI services today can create new problems, too.

So, while I use some Nest security devices I recommend them myself in appropriate situations, they are not my first choice if you are focused on data security.

What if I don’t want the company to use my data internally?

Almost every company will use your data for analysis of some kind, such as your security application activity. Recently, many are also enlisting videos to train their AI if you sign up for cloud storage. Your best bet is to look for companies like Ecobee that require you to opt-in to sharing data for broader purposes, and companies that offer settings to automatically clear stored data or not use it for analysis. Set up your privacy zones It can also help limit what businesses have access to.

For more information, see my A guide on which Alexa settings you should change for privacyAnd the best steps To completely erase your home address from the Internet.