It's natural to want to keep a close watch on your baby -- even when you're not in the same room. A baby monitor can be a great way to check on your baby when you need to step away. However, these devices are vulnerable to hackers, who can broadcast your feed, publish pictures, or even talk through the monitor. Follow these tips from privacy experts Katherine Albrecht and Liz McIntyre to make sure your family's privacy remains secure.
Change the Device's Default Password
Most Internet-connected baby monitors come with a standard password that is easy for hackers to figure out. Change this password as soon as possible, and be sure to choose a strong password with variations in capitalization and characters.
Vary Your Passwords Among All Your Devices
If you keep the same password for multiple devices, one hacked password puts all your other devices in danger. Choose a unique password for each of your accounts and devices. Don't worry about having to remember them all; there are a number of password managers to keep these safe until you need to log in. eHow Tech writer Rick Broida, for example, recommends Dashlane.
Update your Camera’s Firmware
Firmware is the set of computer instructions which run your device, embedded in the hardware yet still able to be updated or modified with the right connection. Manufacturers sometimes update the firmware in a product when bugs or security weaknesses are uncovered. Check the manufacturer's website occasionally for updates and install them as instructed.
Don't Broadcast Your SSID
The SSID is the device name of your baby monitor, broadcasted over Wi-Fi to let people (including hackers) know that the monitor is accessible via a wireless connection. You might want to check your device settings and make sure that your monitor is not broadcasting this -- though truth be told, any competent hacker can find your device with or without an SSID. That said, why make it easier than it has to be?
