This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.
At this point I really don't understand why anyone would put a camera in their home that's connected to a server they don't control.
Laziness. Most people don't want to research everything needed to set up a self hosted camera system. Much easier to pop into Best Buy and grab a Wyze camera that works out of the box.
I wouldn't call it lazy necessarily, everyone just has limited time and energy to invest in stuff and probably had no idea of the risks.
How do these people not realize that these cameras let other people to see into their homes?
This has happened SO. Many. Times.
I really wonder how much everyday people care. Years back, people would give out their passwords for chocolate. Most people at this point have had their SSN’s leaked multiple times, all their PII is generally available somewhere, they use unencrypted SMS and email for financial transactions, etc… convenience is worth way more to the average person than having a few pictures of their house leaked. Even if they’re in it. It just doesn’t enter their mind as a problem. Last few people I brought it up to about their wyze or blink cameras just shrugged off the privacy stuff. (Though none of them had them in their homes, just external doorbell/driveway kinda cameras)
More likely people lack the time.
Besides, expecting a security camera company to provide a decent quality product that doesn't suffer egregiously serious breaches like Wyze has is not unreasonable. Idealistic, maybe; lacking an appropriately enormous degree of cynicism.
Because most people don't understand the meaning nor the implication of the words that you just said.
For me it's one less camera I have to run on my server that is already overwhelmed with the 12 other cameras that watch the outside. I have my wyze cams on sonoff minis that kill power to them unless I have my house set as away. I don't need 247 recording of the inside just give me the option to peek in while away to see if anything is alarming.
I'm sure I'm going to get some shit for this, but here we go! I own a wyzecam that I keep in (but due to lack of necessity will soon be removing from) my daughter's room. We had it there just to check and see if she was asleep in her crib still without walking up the very creaky stairs/hall to her room.
It has pretty garbage resolution, has no sensitive information in frame, is not in a part of the house that anything can be overheard, and literally just shows a blurry image of our daughter's bed.
I guess someone could theoretically sign in and...watch a 3 year old sleep? The worst case scenario I can imagine is someone using the speaker function to scare my kid, which would suck, but I think I can risk it.
I have one to watch my dogs when I am away. It was cheap and I only plug it in occasionally when I am gone for a while. Probably about 3 hours a week. I figure if it is mostly off it will be hard to be exposed, and even if so, all you will see are my dogs in their crates.
and even if so, all you will see are my dogs in their crates.
And that you're not home.
How many people you think live near me, are able to hack my Wyze cam, are into breaking and entry, and read this post so they know that when the camera is on I am probably not home?
It would be a hell of a lot easier to just wait until you don’t see cars in my driveway, or watch my house until you see me leave.
lol again, Wyze? This happened last year. Love that they’re downplaying it, “we’ve identified only 14 people that were affected.” They have a privacy issue. A big one.
Man I saw the headline and I'm like, "Oh, this is old news. Why is it on here?" Then I read your comment and realized that this is actually a second breach. What a mess!
...again.
I’m honestly impressed they are still in business. If the first time it happened didn’t kill them, the second time probably won’t either.
Using Wyze is a choice that has trade-offs and it's up to the user to understand what those are.
For example, if you aren't able, or willing, to selfhost an NVR, then accept that these situations may arise and decide which video feeds are ones you're willing to take that risk with.
Video feeds of your backyard, are significantly different then those of your bedroom, or living areas.
I’ve got one on the sump pump and crawl space. China is welcome to monitor that and report anything interesting
I disagree, you can't expect everyone to be technologically literate enough to understand the consequences of everything. And you can't palm it off by saying "well they need to/should". Much like expecting people to understand and read every single EULA that everyone always scrolls down and hits "accept" At some point legislation needs to be drafted yo make it very clear the consequences, or legislate to ensure privacy so companies can't do this.
Do you mean that Wyze has a self-hosted NVR option? If so, that'd be awesome for me...
I was referring to those who use Wyze's default cloud storage.
SOME Wyze models are compatible with 3rd party software/firmware to switch to a selfhosting model, but again, it depends on the model and firmware version.
Yes, all my V2s and even a v3 was able to run Frigate on Home Assistant.
This is the exact same error that chatgpt had. Caching error letting you see other users stuff.
What's that they say ... there are three common errors in programming, catching and off by one errors?
The number of affected customers has grown from 14 to 13,000.
Finally back in the growth economy!
Wait…
Internet Of Things - where the "S" in the acronym stands for security...
This is why you don't use any smart home devices, kids
Oh, I use plenty of smart devices. I just make sure I select equipment that I can put on an isolated network without cloud access and operate through my self-hosted automation platform.
If it requires the cloud or a dedicated app for its basic setup and operation, its not getting installed here.
Works great on paper till you find the official API that can be used with open assistant is for licensed technicians only so you can only connect it to your server by giving your server access to the cloud app...
Looking at you Mitsubishi air conditioning unit with infrared scanner that is definitely not an old webcam up-cycled from some random warehouse.
That's a very good point but could you also tell me why do you need a smart home? I don't understand the point of it
Same reason a remote control is handy for a TV — convenience.
Motion or presence sensing. Timers. Virtual buttons. Physical buttons in places I wouldn’t normally have them. Garage door opening automagically when I pull in the driveway with a specific vehicle. Etc.
Plus I get to check in on my kitty from far away.
Convenience and fun. It’s not about having buttons to push, it’s about making sure things are taken care of.
The house closes the garage and turns off the lights when I leave. The hallway dimly lights up when I get up at night to use the bathroom. When the dishwasher runs, it keeps track of how much soap is used and adds it to my grocery list when it gets low. If the dog walker comes to the front door, it unlocks for them. My interior lights can be cool white during the day and warm white at night without me doing anything. Soil moisture sensors let the system auto-water my vegetables, as well as my lawn, and at the exact time of day when it’ll be the coolest.
I don’t necessarily need any of that, but it sure makes things easier.
I used to live alone, and travel quite a bit for work. I started with sensors like water sensors in the sump area of my basement, window/door sensors, temperature sensors and a chincy USB web camera on the cats' feeding area to make sure they were staying fed and watered. It was peace of mind that things were OK at home while I was away, and let me call in help if something was awry.
After I started my family, I got tired of chasing people around to turn off lights, TVs and game systems when they were done, to turn on/off fans in the bathrooms and stuff like that. It was easier to just let the system deal with it. Couple of unsaved games getting lost later, and they got the hint.
Eventually we had new families on the block and neighbors started having packages go missing, so i installed cameras over my front & back porches to alert for deliveries, or at least provide instant replay for where DID that package go after it was dropped off? Its been as effective a deterrent as it's been useful to see how much traffic my front porch gets weekly. You'd be surprised how many solicitors come through sometimes.
So while I do lights and fans and sensors and stuff, I don't bother with things like window shades, automating coffee makers or wrangling Roombas.
Now I'm looking into deploying a small satellite system at my mom's condo because she lives alone and is getting older. We've talked about installing some PIR and mmWave presence sensors to detect activity, and also some assistance buttons in her private spaces. She doesnt want cqmeras, and she hasn't committed to it yet but she likes the idea we can check up on her remotely without her having to give up any of her prvacy or independence to an outside party.
So it's about more than just geeking out and being a creature of comfort. There are practical applications in security, energy management and health/safety to consider as well.
Not who you asked but I have a smartish home. There is no real need. It just affords convenience and for me lands pretty squarely in “hobby” territory.
My lights turn on prior to sunset, and turn off after I go to bed. My porch lights dim at 10pm so I don’t disturb my neighbors as much. I have additional states of lights that are predicated on various scenarios. In short, I never touch a light switch, I never walk into a dark house, and my energy usage is reduced.
My vehicle mileage and tire pressures are reported on a dashboard for me to monitor.
My network statistics are monitored and graphed.
Energy usage of electronics of interest to me are monitored and graphed.
I have a software defined radio that I’m able to use remotely. Using a smart outlet I’m able to turn it on and off remotely as well instead of leaving it on 24/7.
Unfortunately I have a camera that is cloud based my SO uses to monitor pets. Using a smart outlet I turn it on only when we are not home.
Some of this can be accomplished with less smart means, some of it can’t, but it’s been fun to get it all setup.
Maybe I want you to peek in...
I've got several Wyze cams around my house and one inside facing the main living room/kitchen area. I realize it's an imperfect system with flaws, but at the same time that living room camera is also the reason I was able to file abuse charges against my ex wife. Not a scenario I'd want anyone to deal with, but in my case it turned out to be some of the best money I've ever spent.
You can have security cameras without putting them on the Internet for anyone to access.
This is why I always sigh when people get cameras for security. It's only as secure as the weakest link. And if you don't know what the weakest link is, you are boned.
Every single one of my "internet facing" devices is blocked from accessing the internet at the router. If I want to access them they either get added to my HomeAssistant instance or another computer that's only accessible from the outside through my VPN.
All of the convenience with the privacy concerns practically eliminated. It costs $6 a month in hosting for the VPS I set the wireguard server up on.
Every single one of my "internet facing" devices is blocked from accessing the internet at the router.
This would be a lot more common if router software stopped being developed in the fuckin 80's. Unless you get a commercial product they're all so cryptic, and difficult to navigate.
No apology for Wyze's breach, but only 1500 of the possible alerts for not-your-home were clicked on/viewed. Gotta love sensational headlines.
Also, if you're using a cloud-based camera for private spaces? Well, that's kinda a decision you made for yourself.
I have to assume these people don't understand it, and would care to know this and hopefully learn that decision was a bad idea.
