Latest news with #RingDoorbell
Forbes
4 days ago
- Forbes
Amazon Ring Doorbell May 28 Mass Hacking Claim Goes Viral
Was your Ring doorbell hacked on May 28? Future via Getty Images Hot on the heels of Amazon emailing all 220 million Prime customers with a warning that their accounts are under attack, comes a claim that users of the hugely popular Ring doorbell were hacked on May 28. All of them. The claims, posted to TikTok and Reddit, have gone viral. Not least as they do, indeed, appear to show multiple unauthorised device logins all on May 28. So, has your doorbell been hacked, and if not, what the heck did happen? Forbes Amazon Warns 220 Million Customers Of Prime Account Attacks By Davey Winder Not so many years ago, if someone claimed that their doorbell had been hacked, then you would be looking for evidence of tinfoil hat wear. That all changed when the Internet of Things arrived, connecting just about any device you can think of in the race to be 'smart.' Of course, tinfoil hats and TikTok do have something of a history, so when I started getting emails from worried readers asking if the TikTok videos they had seen, warning that Ring doorbells had suffered a mass hacking attack on May 28, were true, I was tempted to dismiss it initially. The one thing that prompted me to investigate further, however, was the evidence. These videos, as well as postings to Reddit making the same claims, included the receipts in the form of screenshots showing a mass of seemingly unauthorized device connections. All dated May 28. Could an attacker, maybe with access to your account passwords, really have pulled off the hack of the century? Of course, I then checked my own Amazon Ring doorbell account to see if this was just some elaborate hoax, and, lo and behold, there were the same myriad logins from devices all dated May 28. Something was, indeed, not right. Ring doorbell device logins all dated May 28. Hmmmm? Davey Winder The difference, however, between my logs and the claims being made online, was that I recognized all the devices involved. Some couldn't have connected on May 28, it has to be said, as I no longer owned them at that point. This did mean that a hacking event was hugely unlikely in my professional opinion. It was, I concluded, far more likely to be an update glitch behind the scenes. And Amazon has now confirmed that this was, indeed, the case. A July 18 posting from the Ring team stated: 'We are aware of an issue where information is displaying inaccurately in Control Center. This is the result of a backend update, and we're working to resolve this. We have no reason to believe this is the result of unauthorized access to customer accounts.' Forbes Facebook Deletes 10 Million Accounts And Warns The Purge Will Go On By Davey Winder
Metro
11-07-2025
- Metro
Misplace everything? This genius gadget finds it for you - now £21 for Prime Day
Metro journalists select and curate the products that feature on our site. If you make a purchase via links on this page we will earn commission – learn more Amazon Prime Day is back! The biggest shopping event of the year is packed with unbeatable discounts on thousands of must-have products. From the latest tech gadgets, including the popular Ring Doorbell, to everyday household essentials, shoppers are on the hunt for the best deals before they vanish. And one bargain that could seriously change your life is the Tile by Life360 Slim. If you're tired of constantly misplacing your wallet, you're not alone and the Tile by Life360 Slim is here to solve your searching woes. Measuring just 3.4 x 2.1 x 0.1 inches and weighing only 0.6 ounces, the Tile Slim slots into your wallet, passport or bag without adding bulk. With a three year battery life, bluetooth connection and Find Your Phone feature, you'll never have to search the house for your stuff ever again. BUY NOW FOR £20.99 (WAS £29.99) – SAVE 30% The super slim, credit card sized design helps you keep track of stuff like your wallet, passport, or anything else that fits in tight spaces and, because it's so thin, it slips right into your wallet without making it bulky. It connects to your phone via Bluetooth, so you can ring your Tile or check its last known location on a map through the Tile app. If your lost item is out of range, no worries because the Tile community can help find it by anonymously picking up its signal on other users' phones nearby. One of the best things? The battery lasts up to three years, so you won't have to swap it out anytime soon. Plus, if you double-press the Tile Slim, it'll make your phone ring even if it's on silent – perfect for when you can't find your phone. It works with both iPhones and Androids, making it a handy, no-fuss way to stop losing your important stuff and save time hunting for it. If you're someone who's always misplacing things, this little tracker can be a total lifesaver. Shoppers who have already snapped up the limited-time deal are already raving about it. More Trending One review left by Motherof5boys, said: 'This is a genius idea! It fits perfectly in my purse alongside all my cards, taking up no extra space, whilst staying discreet making it so convenient. I love how easy it is to set up and use. The accuracy is precise unlike another tracking app I have used before.' And a review from Hannah said: 'This is fantastic and connects easily to the phone. When you go on the app you can send an alarm to find whatever you have put the card into.' Normally priced at £29.99, but down to £20.99 for Amazon Prime week, we suggest moving quickly as one this deals gone, it's gone. Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Share your views in the comments below MORE: The secret's out! Oral-B electric toothbrushes slashed by up to 70% this Prime Day MORE: Amazon slashes 'superb' and 'versatile' Tefal airfryer by 40% for Prime Day MORE: Get your hands on a fan from just £8.49 in time for this weekend's heatwave with Amazon Prime Day
The Sun
11-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
Cheap Ring doorbell rival with NO subscription for video storage drops to £34 with an extra camera thrown in for FREE
A POPULAR Ring doorbell rival has just slashed £86 off a mega bundle for Prime Day. Ring may be the big brand most people think of when it comes to home security systems but there's another lesser-known name also owned by Amazon. Blink Outdoor 4 camera + Blink Video Doorbell: Now £33.99, was £119.98 Buy on Amazon Blink offers more budget friendly options and the big win adored by many is the ability to store videos without any subscription fees. While Ring requires cloud storage you have to pay for every month, Blink has an alternative option. Instead, you can save footage on a device at home, meaning there's no need for a subscription at all. You'll need to get hold of a Sync Module 2, which is sold separately, to do that. But as for the product in question, Amazon is offering it's new Blink Outdoor 4 camera device for only £33.99 at the moment. You can choose to add on a Blink video doorbell for free, saving 72%. Normally, the pair would cost you £119.98. As for the specs, both offer 1080p HD day and infrared night video, as well as two-way audio whenever anyone turns up. You'll get alerts to your phone whenever motion is detected and you can pair it up with Alexa too. Amazon's Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus watches your front door & doesn't need any wires There are no rechargeable batteries on these, instead you need to use two AA lithium batteries - a pair are included in the box to start you off. On the Blink Outdoor 4 camera, Amazon claims you can get up to two years of power. You can also set up two Privacy Zones to block out areas in view of your camera, which is important for the privacy of neighbours and legally too. This Prime Day deal is only available until midnight so you'll need to snap it up fast. All prices in this article were correct at the time of writing, but may have since changed. Always do your own research before making any purchase.
The Sun
10-07-2025
- The Sun
Ring doorbell owners warned of gadget could SHUT DOWN as temperatures reach 31C today – how to protect your device
YOUR Ring doorbell may stop working as usual today as temperatures reach 31C in some parts of the UK. Ring devices perform their best when at the 'goldilocks' temperature of around 25°C. 1 While they typically operate normally between -20°C and 50°C, Ring devices can experience battery issues when subject to extreme hot or cold temperatures. The current warm spell may change the temperature of your device - particularly if it sits in direct sunlight. While the sunny weather might be taken as a good thing for those with a Ring Solar Charger, it may affect battery performance or cause the device to shut down entirely. "Prolonged exposure to hot weather will negatively affect the overall lifetime of your battery," according to Ring. "If your device gets too hot, it will not charge and may completely shut down." Heat can permanently damage the batteries in electronic devices - even your iPhone or Android phone - by accelerating internal chemical reactions. This can cause the battery to run through its lifespan faster, and even cause it to hold less charge over time. High temperatures can also cause the electrolyte fluid inside batteries to evaporate, which could potentially damage internal components. In rare cases, heat can trigger a process called "thermal runaway" in lithium-ion batteries, which can cause a fire. Amazon's Ring Battery Video Doorbell Plus watches your front door & doesn't need any wires Fortunately, there are steps you can take to keep your device working properly and protect it from rising temperatures. Ring recommends installing the device in a shaded area, if possible. You may also need to take it inside to cool down during the hottest parts of the day. Keep an eye on the battery, Ring adds, especially in "extreme temperatures". Amazon's guide to Ring doorbell positioning Here's the official advice... One of the biggest mistakes people make is mounting their Ring Video Doorbell too high in the belief that they need to do this in order to catch people's faces. In fact, as illustrated above, viewing faces is not a problem if the Ring Video Doorbell is mounted at the correct height of approximately 1.2 meters above the ground. The second way your Ring Video Doorbell sees the world is through a network of PIR, or passive infrared, motion sensors. These are heat sensors that detect motion by monitoring heat within the detection area. Since people are hotter than the surrounding areas, as a person enters the detection area the heat measurements change. The motion sensors register this change as movement and send out an alert. The motion sensors in your Ring Video Doorbell are designed to detect motion up to 155 degrees horizontally and from 1.5 to 7.5 meters outward from the fixture. They're also more sensitive to horizontal movement across the detection area than vertical. Mount your doorbell too high and you're more likely to catch the heat of passing cars than the heat of incoming visitors.
Daily Mail
10-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
My neighbour opposite has got a Ring doorbell - how can I ensure I'm not being filmed?
My neighbour who lives opposite me has installed a Ring doorbell. It means every time we leave and enter our home he could be watching us. I know it may sound like we are being paranoid, but we don't know him well and don't like the idea of being filmed, particularly as we have young children. We feel the doorbell is compromising our privacy, particularly as our living room and master bedroom look out over the road and both have big bay windows. Can we complain and how can we ensure we are not being filmed? Ed Magnus of This is Money replies: It's often impossible to avoid feeling overlooked by neighbours in an urban setting, but with tech gadgets being increasingly used these days it can start to feel like your home is under surveillance. Many people are now installing smart doorbells, which allow them to see who is outside their property, whether they are at home or not. Your neighbour is unlikely to pay any attention to the recordings, unless something happens which means they need to. But even if they are, most Ring doorbells only record when activated by motion or a linked device, and typically for no more than one minute at a time. The reality is, your neighbour is within their rights to install a Ring doorbell on their property. If you're worried, it may be worth discussing the matter with your neighbour. Be polite rather than confrontational and point out that it's making you feel uncomfortable. For expert advice we spoke to Scarlett Doyle, a solicitor in RWK Goodman's property disputes team and Karolina Kupczyk, a partner specialising in dispute resolution at Hodge Jones & Allen Solicitors. Ring was contacted for comment. Scarlett Doyle replies: Everyone should feel safe and comfortable in their own home, and with Ring and similar companies increasing in popularity and sales, it will be interesting to see how the courts balance the privacy of third parties against the homeowners' desire to protect themselves and their property. The right of protection extends to your neighbour, too, and it might be they are simply taking measures to protect their home and those in it. Guidance from the Information Commissioner's Office reminds people of the rules they need to follow when capturing images or audio recordings outside their property boundary. Cameras should be in positions that only capture their own property. Where someone else's property is captured, data protection law applies. This means you have the right to request a copy of this footage, because the footage can capture images and voices of other people, which counts as personal information. Firstly, consider the distance between your property and your neighbour's camera. Ring suggests its doorbells have a maximum motion detection range of 30 feet. If your neighbour's camera is across the street, it may be you are out of range entirely. As to how you can ensure you are not being filmed and assuming your property falls within the range, as a first step I would suggest approaching your neighbour and expressing your concerns. You could ask if they would mind sharing recent 'motion detected' notifications they have received – they may be able to instantly put your mind at rest by showing you and your family are not detected on footage while going about your daily life. But if your neighbour refuses to share a copy of the footage, or you review the footage and you are concerned with the content, seek legal advice for further support to help facilitate complaints and next steps. Karolina Kupczyk replies: It is understandable that it is concerning when people feel they might be watched. While security is important, it should not come at the expense of your privacy. You have the right to peaceful enjoyment of your home, and the law does provide protection. Depending on the model, a doorbell camera has a range within which it can record video and often audio. Those recordings can be captured 24/7 or triggered by a motion for a period of time. Installation of such a device by your neighbour within the vicinity of your home can create various risks including invasion of privacy and data misuse – as the recordings might be stored and shared without your knowledge or consent. A CCTV system capturing footage beyond the boundary of a private domestic property triggers duties under General Data Protection Regulation and the Data Protection Act 2018 legislation. Those include ensuring that the use of the camera is proportionate and not excessive. Further duties include transparency (e.g. signs), clear purpose, and ensuring the footage is stored securely and not kept longer than necessary. Regulating and enforcing of this legislation is within the competences of the ICO. Please note this information is provided for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. What can you do? Karolina Kupczyk replies: Unfortunately, those situations can cause tensions with neighbours and an appropriate approach should be considered, taking into account individual circumstances. You may also consider installing a privacy screen or trellis if appropriate, to obscure the camera's view without being confrontational. If you are worried your property is covered by the camera and you are being recorded, the suggestion would be to have a friendly chat with your neighbour to assess the area that the camera covers and the footage it records. Taking a balanced approach first will usually avoid a lasting conflict and it should normally be possible to adjust the coverage of the device to ensure certain areas are not captured. If this is not possible or the neighbour refuses to cooperate you may submit a Subject Access Request (SAR) for copies of any footage that includes you or your property. SARs should be made in writing and include enough detail to identify the footage (e.g. time and date). A template can be found on the ICO's website. Your neighbour has one month to respond. If the issue cannot be resolved informally, you can complain to the ICO especially if the neighbour refuses to respond to your SAR or won't adjust excessive recording. You may also contact your local council which may help with neighbour disputes. If the problem is not resolved, especially if the surveillance is persistent, intrusive, or being used in a harassing way, please consider seeking legal advice. How to find a new mortgage Borrowers who need a mortgage because their current fixed rate deal is ending, or they are buying a home, should explore their options as soon as possible. Buy-to-let landlords should also act as soon as they can. Quick mortgage finder links with This is Money's partner L&C > Mortgage rates calculator > Find the right mortgage for you What if I need to remortgage? Borrowers should compare rates, speak to a mortgage broker and be prepared to act. Homeowners can lock in to a new deal six to nine months in advance, often with no obligation to take it. Most mortgage deals allow fees to be added to the loan and only be charged when it is taken out. This means borrowers can secure a rate without paying expensive arrangement fees. Keep in mind that by doing this and not clearing the fee on completion, interest will be paid on the fee amount over the entire term of the loan, so this may not be the best option for everyone. What if I am buying a home? Those with home purchases agreed should also aim to secure rates as soon as possible, so they know exactly what their monthly payments will be. Buyers should avoid overstretching and be aware that house prices may fall, as higher mortgage rates limit people's borrowing ability and buying power. What about buy-to-let landlords Buy-to-let landlords with interest-only mortgages will see a greater jump in monthly costs than homeowners on residential mortgages. This makes remortgaging in plenty of time essential and our partner L&C can help with buy-to-let mortgages too. How to compare mortgage costs The best way to compare mortgage costs and find the right deal for you is to speak to a broker. This is Money has a long-standing partnership with fee-free broker L&C, to provide you with fee-free expert mortgage advice. Interested in seeing today's best mortgage rates? Use This is Money and L&Cs best mortgage rates calculator to show deals matching your home value, mortgage size, term and fixed rate needs. If you're ready to find your next mortgage, why not use L&C's online Mortgage Finder. It will search 1,000's of deals from more than 90 different lenders to discover the best deal for you. > Find your best mortgage deal with This is Money and L&C Be aware that rates can change quickly, however, and so if you need a mortgage or want to compare rates, speak to L&C as soon as possible, so they can help you find the right mortgage for you.
