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But they said on the news that I linked, that it was a hacking, as in done intentionally.
If so, theirs is probably wi-fi based and they did not secure it properly. A reality of the "Internet of things." These things aren't always designed with security in mind. Anything connected to your wireless internet could get "hacked" if you will, by someone accessing the network.
The RF monitors are working much like cordless landline phones, which might pick up your neighbors' conversations on some channels if they also use them. But they wouldn't really be able to talk to you directly.
My advice for people be to avoid this technology if you are unable to secure it. I'd like to think that wi-fi has been around long enough and has become so widespread that securing your signal with encryption and a password that isn't easily cracked amounts to common sense.
Well why would people want to use this technology that needs a password to be protected over the net, instead of just using old walkie talkie style monitors that do not need a password to keep from being hacked?
Well why would people want to use this technology that needs a password to be protected over the net, instead of just using old walkie talkie style monitors that do not need a password to keep from being hacked?
Because they're the kind of naive people that would install and use a wireless router and not secure the signal. Technically it's not the wi-fi based monitors themselves that need the password. You sign into your network with the password you set for the router, same way you would access your wi-fi with a laptop or smartphone.
A more compelling question to me is why someone would bother to hack into a stranger's baby monitor. Anyone who does that is probably a kid essentially pulling a stupid prank, or is an adult and is probably missing a screw.
Well why would people want to use this technology that needs a password to be protected over the net, instead of just using old walkie talkie style monitors that do not need a password to keep from being hacked?
more importantly, why would people keep baby monitors on the same network as the internet, when most are not going to check the monitors from anywhere but their own home?
its inexpensive to get a second router, which you dont have to connect to the internet at all.
but lets get a couple of things straight here-- first, the walkie talkie style monitors are generally completely insecure. hacking equipment involved-- close range, good antenna.
the password is for the encryption. the walkie talkie monitors are unencrypted, their lack of a password doesnt mean theyve got better security, it usually means they have none.
Oh okay thanks. What's the point of hooking up the baby monitor to the internet though? Just for encryption? Instead of hooking up to internet to get encryption, why not just make baby monitors or even walkie talkies so they have their own encryption that comes with them, instead of needing to get encryption off the internet?
Oh okay thanks. What's the point of hooking up the baby monitor to the internet though? To set a password, for more security?
two reasons-- hypothetically, you could check on your baby from outside the home. unfortunately, so can anybody else that can hack it. if youre going to put it on your home network, you should at least get a good quality model (not a guarantee.)
the other reason is so that you can check on your baby from other rooms that have wifi. this is probably the most common reason, and if you buy a second router (no need to spend a lot, i got one used for 10 bucks one time) then you can set them up this way without exposing them to the internet. someone in radio range could still hack an insecure wireless device, but this is a step forward.
Oh okay. So when it comes to this person who was able hack the baby monitor, how was he able to speak out of the baby's end of the monitor?
The baby's end of the monitor as I understand it, is a microphone, where as the end that goes into the parents bedroom is the speaker, right? So how was the hacker able to speak out of a part of the monitor, that did not have a speaker attached to it, for him to speak out of?
how was the hacker able to speak out of a part of the monitor, that did not have a speaker attached to it
thats an easy one. some baby monitors do have speakers attached, so you can speak to them, not just listen. this of course is a feature intended for the parents, and if it were a concern you could likely get a screwdriver and clip and tape one of the speaker wires-- voiding the warranty in the process, which you were probably never going to take advantage of anyway.
buying a monitor without a speaker is also an option, but i figure theyre increasingly common. speakers generally have just two wires going to them-- clipping either and taping it with electrical tape to prevent a short, is pretty easy to do if you can get the case open. the super fancy new ones with cameras and wifi, you may find are difficult to safely take apart and put back together though.
Oh okay that makes sense lol. It's all very fascinating. So pretty much any microphone that sends a radio signal can be hacked by a hacker then, even if it's not connected to the internet? I have lavelier microphones for example, that send a radio signal to an audio field recorder. Can those be hacked?
microphones are generally designed around sound quality, not security. you wouldnt hack one really, you would simply listen in on it.
there are exceptions to this, but i dont think your lavelier is among them.
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