You’ve heard about a smart home hack: Here’s how it works and how likely it is

You may have heard the recent news that it’s over 100,000 Korean home cameras hacked to spy on peopleI wouldn’t blame you if news like this makes you worry about smart homes and how secure they are New devices We are. Although this type of malicious cybercrime sounds very scary, I have some good news.

First, home “hacking” is incredibly rare and common From someone you already know. From what we can tell, the Korean hack was primarily due to poor user practices such as weak passwords, and was only carried out by several people. Modern, reputable brands Smart locks, Homeland security systems Other technologies are always updating their security to protect you from attacks, including the latest ones Weaknesses in rapid AI programs.

Let’s break it all down to give you valuable information as well as some peace of mind.

Read more: Best home security systems of 2025

How smart homes can – or can’t – be hacked

First, “hackers” or to be more precise, cybercriminals are unlikely to be prowling around looking for compromised smart homes using nefarious tools. Wi-Fi bands typically don’t reach far enough for this to be effective and it would take a lot of effort to produce minimal returns. There are some reports about Big businesses like casinos are being hacked Via smart devices, but very few people try to access Ocean’s 11 residential homes.

Likewise, burglars interested in breaking into your home don’t seem to invest in the software or equipment needed to hack a smart lock first. There are very few reported cases of smart home security systems being hacked or electronically disarmed due to simple thefts. The low-tech approach is easier and more realistic. Most try to Break unprotected windows Or check for unlocked doors. Some may spy homes firstbut that’s as high-tech as they get. So how? He does Are smart homes being hacked? Below are the possible methods of attack and how they work (or don’t work).

1. Large-scale automated attacks via the Internet

These automated cyberattacks from around the world scan almost everything connected to the Internet to see if accounts can be hacked, usually using brute force. Password guesses Which bombards devices with billions of different login attempts in hopes of passing them. The attack then infects the device, adding it to a botnet for future cyberattacks or general data theft. Rarely will a human cybercriminal attempt to take control of your device. It is these mass online attacks that created what is often cited any? A study on smart homes that face up to 12,000 hacking attempts per week (One of them worked, per ieGeek Camera.)

This is an important reason to protect your account with up-to-date passwords, but it doesn’t mean anyone is intentionally targeting your smart home or that the device’s security is weak. Bots are just looking for any basic login vulnerabilities they can find in any system or account available online.

2. Phishing messages

It’s not as common as other types of phishing, but some are Phishing emails Or text messages may pretend to come from your smart home security company. Giving them personal information like account logins or clicking on their fake links (for malware designed to take over) could give cybercriminals access to devices they wouldn’t otherwise be able to access. Even generic phishing attempts may lead criminals to your Wi-Fi network, through which they may be able to find and control connected home security devices.

3. Company data breaches

In this case, cybercriminals use brute force and similar attacks to target servers and networks where IoT companies hold information about smart home users in databases, including account login details, personal information about location, addresses, and camera footage stored in the cloud. It’s a frequent target because data thieves can grab a lot of data at once, which is why you see headlines about major data breaches with painful frequency.

Stolen data is unlikely to lead to smart home devices being compromised, but it can put your accounts at risk and some cybercriminals may try to use that data as much as they can, which we’ll cover more below.

Read more: Record losses of $12.5 billion due to cybercrime in 2023

4. Monitor smart home data communications

Recently, in early 2020, IoT/smart home devices were found to be vulnerable to hacking Man-in-the-middle attacks Where criminals can spy on the data packets that smart devices were sending back to the Internet. Smart devices send all kinds of data about their current settings and receive data in return. With the right malware, a cybercriminal could potentially monitor this data and attempt to alter or block it.

In practice, this simply does not happen. Criminals are not in a position to do that to a smart home. Even if this is the case, today’s smart home technology uses encryption practices and Advanced protocols such as Thread Which makes it useless. It’s an example of how vulnerabilities that seem scary don’t make it into the real world.

5. Bluetooth malware

This type of malware, Such as Blueburn attacksenters through a poorly secured Internet connection and uses Bluetooth capabilities to hack into other devices, including phones and smart speakers. When these vulnerabilities became notorious in late 2010, companies quickly updated their Bluetooth security and encryption practices. We don’t currently see many Bluetooth-based vulnerabilities (Although some crops appear briefly)Like man-in-the-middle attacks, they do not lead to problems in a smart home.

Who is trying to hack your smart home?

If thieves use the physical kind of brute force and black hat hackers are usually busy elsewhere, then who exactly is trying to hack into smart homes these days? Let’s narrow it down to common culprits.

• A relationship or acquaintance: A lot of annoying smart home “hacks” come from relationships, exes, estranged roommates and others who already know or otherwise have access to smart device logins. They use this prior access to spy or intentionally cause problems. This is a sign to update all login passwords and possibly file a police report.
• An untrustworthy company employee: Many home security data breaches come directly from the company itself, usually through an employee snooping on camera feeds Like this ADT technician. As with interference from former acquaintances, little is required for true hacking and the goal is usually more sinister or deviant than money.
• Data thieves looking to sell: These thieves try to collect as much personal data as possible, anything from addresses to login information, so they can sell those listings on the more obscure parts of the Internet. This data can be passed on to others who may attempt to use this data in specific hacking attempts or resell it. That’s why it’s important to update your passwords when you’re notified of a security breach.

• Potential blackmailers: The story goes that persistent cybercriminals try to take control of smart home cameras and then threaten to do something unless you pay them. They may try to block you from accessing your security system or claim to have dangerous video footage of you. This is something of an urban legend: In most cases, people send spam about hacks and hope that someone will fall for them.
• Foreign governments: Government-backed entities are not interested in being spied on You Personally, but they may want to gather as much information as possible about other countries and the behavior of their citizens. This can sometimes lead to hacking attempts or security backdoors: Fortunately, the FCC currently maintains a list of Companies banned from selling security devices in the United States Because of this risk (other countries have similar lists), including Huawei, Dahua and ZTE. Check these lists before purchasing foreign home technology products.

How can you protect against potential home security breaches?

As you can see, although highly targeted attacks are unlikely, smart homes can be subject to broader hacking attempts. Fortunately, the vast majority of these attacks can be thwarted through basic security practices. Here are some easy things you can do.

1. Set strong passwords:Long and complex Passwords App accounts for your smart device, especially your Wi-Fi router, are your best step against botnets and other online attackers. This shouldn’t be a headache these days, especially if you Hire a good password manager It creates strong passwords and saves them for you to access quickly.
2. Enable two-factor authentication (TFA) whenever possible: More and more brands, like Ring and Blink, are automatically using TFA to secure accounts during setup, which is a great step in the right direction.
3. But trusted brands that use strong encryption: End-to-end encryption will go a long way toward protecting your data. Review security and privacy policies before making a final decision on a home security product. Arlo, a popular manufacturer of DIY home security devices, has health labels Such as penetration testing, third-party research, membership in the Communications Standards Alliance and details about their encryption practices.
4. Store your data locally: If you’re concerned about large-scale data theft, look for security devices that let you keep data outside the cloud and company servers, including security cameras from Lorex, Eufy, and TP-Link Tapo cameras. In this regard, consider keeping surveillance cameras Away from private areas like your bedroom.
5. Update your smart devices: Keep your apps and firmware updated to fix any issues. Enable automatic updates if you can so you don’t have to think about it. If you have a smart device that is several years old or more, it may be time to consider replacing it with a new model that is compatible with the latest protocols like Matter and Thread.
6. Update your smart devices: Pay attention to your smart home security brands and whether they experience any security breaches, vulnerabilities, or data theft. Stick to quality products from companies with a good track record.

We will keep you updated CNET Homeland Security If we find serious brand safety issues and if any of the recommended companies are experiencing issues, e.g Past Wyze security incidents Which gave strangers a view into other people’s homes.