Protect Arlo Cameras From Hackers (Tips & Tricks).

Arlo Camera
Arlo Camera

Smart security cameras popularity is growing each year and people are not using them only to catch intruders or to see who visit their house but also to keep an eye on their kids, pets and even their deliveries.

Arlo cameras are one of the best devices you can find on the market and we rely on them to keep our loved ones safe, but are Arlo cameras really that secure? Can a hacker access this gadget and break our privacy and see everything that is going on inside our home?

Unfortunately, yes, the Arlo camera is still vulnerable to hacking and hackers can do so by attacking your home network, a flaw in the software that runs the device, or by accessing any of your connected gadgets then attack your camera.

In this article, I am going to show you all about the relationship between hackers and the Arlo cams and how to prevent them from accessing this sensitive device.

How does Arlo keep my videos private and secure?

You’re going to use a cloud service to store your videos and events recorded by your Arlo cam and this company is doing a great job to secure these files, and here’s how:

  • Advanced Encryption Standard (AES): This standard is implemented in software and hardware throughout the world to encrypt sensitive data, governments are using it to protect classified information from cyber attacks, it is also used in financial institutions to secure their client’s data.

    AES-128 bit encryption and Transport Layer Security (TLS) ensure that your Arlo camera videos are secure to and from the Arlo camera and base station.
  • Certified Safe Harbor: Arlo passed the Safe Harbor certification, and this certificate means that an organization has adhered to all data privacy standards to ensure that the EU citizen’s personal data including customers in other parts of the world will be treated with utmost security. Which another proof of the high security of these cams.
  • Strict password requirements: Arlo cameras have password encryption so you’re going to set your own password and they have strict requirements to valid it, for example, at least one uppercase, one lowercase, and one number. Allowed symbols are !@#$%^&*() and it must be at least 6 characters long.
  • Limited login attempts: Hackers may use software (or “bots”) to automatically test every username and password combination in the database to see if any successfully log on to your camera but Arlo gives only a maximum of five login attempts over five minutes to prevent these bots from getting your login information.
  • Account authentication over a secure network: Arlo uses account authentication over a secure HTTPS connection to prevent eavesdropping.
  • New updates: Arlo release new updates to all its cameras, these updates are released to improve functionality and features and make the device work better, also to fix security bugs that were discovered on the cams in order to prevent attackers from benefiting from them.

How hackers can get access to your Arlo cam?

Hacker

They have the possibility to choose between many methods to use in order to hack your camera and remotely spy on you so we are going to talk about them in the following section.

  • Home router: Attackers may hack the router that the camera is getting internet from then access to all your gadgets including your security cameras.

    If you’re not using a complex password on your router which may be the case for many of you the hacker can access your network and your cams in a few minutes or even seconds so make sure to not use a simple or the default password.

    Hackers may also benefit from the bugs existing in the router firmware as it’s not updated frequently.

    They can use many methods to get into your routers such as Denial of Service (DoS), Hit-and-run attacks, Router table poisoning, and many more.
  • Arlo account: Same as all smart cameras Arlo cams are controlled from their own account that you can create on the app or website, from this account you can change the settings or the user information and many things.

    So hackers may target it to access your device then change the username and password and prevent you from getting into your own cameras.

    Hackers need to spam your login details until they can find your account password and username and the process can be easier when you’re using a simple password.
  • Arlo app: Many users will control their cameras remotely from an app that you can download from the Play Store or Apple Store, and the company frequently releases updates that improve the security of this app which leads you to protect your information and your device as well.

    But when it’s not updated hackers may benefit from the outdated design and get into this app and change your personal info or spy on you through the camera.
  • Other connected devices: Attackers are not limited to using a flaw in your app or the home Wifi to access your cam, they can use any connected gadget in your home as an entry point to get into your camera so all your devices that are connected to the internet need to be protected.
  • Physical access: Contrary to the previous types of attacks this one will be not so common because the hackers need to be present physically and connect a UART ( Universal asynchronous receiver transmitter) to your router.

    I will not dive into a technical explanation of this hacking method so all you need to understand is that if an attacker can physically connect the UART inside your router he will get access to your router then control your Arlo camera.

How to know if your Arlo camera has been hacked?

Knowing when someone is entering your camera is very important so that you can intervene before it is too late and there are signs that can tell you that someone may be in your camera.

You may notice some signs with your cameras and others on your home network.

  • The presence of foreign device on your network: If you notice new and unknow devices in your network map so that could be a sign of a hacker present in your network and he could be there to attack your camera.
  • Slow internet speed: If your network speed is lower than usual and you’re the only one who use this network so it could be an indication of an attacker who penetrate your Wifi, this change is difficult to notice when a lot of people are using the internet.
  • New software on your computer: When you find a weird software installed on your computer whithout your permission that is a big sign of the presence of hacker, this program installed by the hacker will collect all the information about the users.
  • Change in settings: The Arlo cam give you the possibility to adjust the video settings, including video quality, brightness, image rotation, low light settings, power management, and more.

    Once a hacker gains access to your camera, he will be able to change these settings, so be careful at this point.
  • Strange sounds or voices: The Arlo cam offer a Two-way communication feature to let you speak with people inside your home, So when you hear a strange voice coming from this device so it could be hacker who access your cam and he’s trying to talk to you.
  • Cameras LED lights On: When you see that the camera LED light is turned on when you’re not using it, this may be a sign that another person is utilizing it remotely.
  • Change in the password or username: When you want to access your cam remotely from your app you need to enter your username and password, so when you notice that these two elements are changed that means your camera has been hacked.

What a hacker can do if he access your cam?

If someone succeed in accessing you camera it will be a disaster for you because he will have the freedom to do many things such as watching all what your family is doing inside your house.

He can also hear all your conversation and talk to you or have a chat with your kids, disarming the alarm and redirecting notifications will be possible.

And it will not stop here because hackers can change the username and password of your account to prevent you from accessing your gadget again, turn it ON and OFF when they want.

They can also use the camera to access other connected devices inside your home and steal all your personal data and information.

How to prevent Arlo cameras from being hacked?

  • Change the default-password: every connected home device come with a default manufacturer password and attackers can easily identify and access connected gagdets that use shared default passwords. so make sure to change it in all your appliance including your cameras and router.
  • Setup difficult password: The good thing with simple passwords such as “welcome” or “12345” is that are easy to remember but the bad thing is that they’re easy to hack, so never ever use a simple one if you do then you deserve to be hacked.

    When you make an effort and setup difficult passwords that contain at least 15 character including uppercase and lowercase, numbers, symbols, for example “K6a3e7@R#h%Dy+J”, hackers will make a year to guess it.

    Use difficult passwords for all your devices and change them frequently and never reuse the same one multiple times.
  • Activate Two-Factor Authentication: The Arlo cams offer a two-step verification that will provides an extra layer of security by requiring more than one credential when logging in.

    Follow the next steps to activate this feature from your mobile:

    .Launch the Arlo app on Android or iOS.
    .Tap Settings > Profile > Login Settings > Two-Step Verification.
    .Tap the switch next to Enable.
    .Select Push Notification, SMS Text Message, or Email as your verification method.
    .Follow the in-app instructions to complete your two-step verification setup.


    You can also enable it from the desktop:

    .Log in to my.arlo.com.
    .Click Settings > Profile > Two-Step Verification.
    .Click the switch next to Enable.
    .Click to select your verification method.
    .Follow the instructions to complete your two-step verification setup.

  • Limit your remote monitoring: I know it’s difficult but try to avoid checking your camera all the time because leaving your camera app On all the day can open up your video feeds to hackers, it’s the same thing like leaving your front door open all the time so make sure to always log out after checking your baby or pets.
  • Update the firmwares: As we said before firmware updates will enable the corresponding devices to operate proficiently as well as to fix the bugs for better security.

    So make sure to updates all your device including your router, the BaseStation and the cameras. Also updates every apps and softwares in your computer or smartphone.
  • Implement Firewalls, Antivirus Software and VPN: firewalls protect your computer from intrusion (scanning or attack) by hackers when it is connected to the Internet, while Antivirus will identify malware and viruses so the user can take action against them.

    A VPN will assure your privacy, encrypt your data and keep you anonymous on the web, so it will be impossible for hackers to track you or read your information.

    So make sure to have Firewalls, Antivirus and VPN on each computer you’re using to access your camera.
  • Disconnect the unused gadgets: As mentioned before, attackers may use any of your connected devices as an entry point to access your camera, so make sure to disconnect all your devices connected to the internet when you are done using them.

Conclusion.

Even though the possibility of hacking your Arlo camera will still exist but the probability is low especially if you implement the right security measures as we showed you in the previous section of this article.

Adam B