Smart home gadgets are fast becoming a trend in most homes. But with such internet-connected gadgets, security becomes a challenge due to the activities of hackers. That was the experience of a Texas-based US couple who had their home security cameras breached by hackers. The hackers demanded 50 Bitcoin which is estimated to be worth $400,000. But the plain old battery removal came to the rescue.
Tania Amador, a 28-year-old who lives in Grand Prarie just outside Dallas, gave a video to local news which reportedly showed that her Ring security system had been hacked by cryptocurrency hungry scammers who demanded 50 Bitcoin (around $400,000 rounded up).
Amador told WFAA; “I was asleep and our Ring alarm was going off like an intruder had entered our home. Then we heard a voice coming from our camera.” She disclosed the voice said “Ring support! Ring Support! We would like to notify you that your account has been terminated by a hacker.” Apart from demanding a 50 Bitcoin ($400,000) payment, the hacker threatened Amador by saying that she will be terminated herself if she doesn’t oblige. “Pay this 50 Bitcoin ransom or you will get terminated yourself,” they said. The hackers even managed to gain control of her Ring doorbell to make it appear that they were outside her home. Amador and her boyfriend had to take the batteries out of the hijacked cameras, shutting off the hacker.
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A Google search shows that this isn’t an isolated case as several persons have reported similar hacking of their Ring cameras. Motherboard report recently found that there is software available specifically designed to hack Ring cameras which cost as little as $6.
Amazon’s Ring has since responded to the incident. The home security company told WFAA and Amador that the hacks were a result of a third-party data breach in which Ring account details were exposed. This was not a result of Ring’s security being breached or compromised, it said.
Whatever the cause is, the breach once again reminds us that our smart home gadgets can be hacked easily. So, it is best you change your password regularly and avoid granting phone access to third-party apps that are not trusted.
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