Baby Monitors & Hackers: Are You Safe?

Baby Monitors & Hackers: Are You Safe?

 

Are Baby Monitors Safe

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I remember when I first had my baby girl, I wanted to be close to her every second. I needed my eyes and ears on her at all times when I put her down in her room. It felt so obsessive but I knew it was normal to feel that way but what do you do when you have to use the bathroom or take a shower? I mean duh...I knew I couldn't take her with me but the solution was very easy. I just carried my baby monitor everywhere I went in the house. It was my eyes and ears and it sure as hell was convenient until the day I saw something I shouldn't have seen. Okay, no need to hold your breath, it wasn't life threatening or anything but I saw my neighbor's 2-year old on my baby monitor instead of my napping little girl and I freaked out. What in the heck is going on? I ran to her room and sure enough, she was sound asleep. I immediately started my google search and learned what I experienced might have just been a simple case of "crossed signals" but I dug some more and found dozens of reports of hackers hacking monitors and it was bit scary! I mean...think about it, if hackers can get into our computers without permission, baby monitors should be much easier since most of them do not require password entries.  I read a story about a nanny who was changing a little boy's diaper. While she was changing his diaper, she heard a voice say "That's a really poopy diaper." Apparently, he's been watching her. That is super creepy!

So the big question is...are baby monitors safe?

Well, like computers and smart phones, nothing is really safe but there are precautions you can take to keep your home and your baby safe.

1. Only buy digital monitors that are password protected

2. Create a personalized password for your monitors

3. Always unplug the monitor when not in use so you don't end up on social media

4. Install a firewall between your internet connection and all devices

5. Experts advise to always make sure your wifi is properly locked down with WPA2 + encryption and SSID so it can't be hacked. If you don't know how to do this, hire a professional who can.

Do you feel safe with your baby monitors or did you skip buying this gadget because of safety reasons? Let us know in the comment section below.

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