Latest news with #Ringcamera
Digital Trends
3 days ago
- Digital Trends
It's possible to hack a smart home, but you probably have nothing to worry about
Scopophobia is a fear of security cameras — the concern that behind their small, beady lenses, someone is watching you. If that concerns you, you aren't alone; according to surveys, as many as one in three people worry that their smart home might fall victim to malicious hackers. That particular fear has been a subject of discussion since the earliest days of the smart home, and for good reason. Bad actors have taken advantage of smart home systems in the past. In 2021, South Korea experienced one of the most audacious smart home hacks in history, with more than 700 apartments being digitally breached. In 2023, a Ring camera was hacked and used to make inappropriate comments toward the homeowner. Recommended Videos Incidents like the latter occurred more frequently in the early days of smart home technology. In the intervening years, companies like Google, Ring, and others have made security a central focus for new products. While that hacking scene from 2022's Scream is technically possible, it's also unlikely. But with that in mind, a new potential avenue for risk has emerged in the form of artificial intelligence. Last week, a new report demonstrated how researchers used Google Gemini to take control of connected smart home devices through malicious code hidden in a Google Calendar invite. The event marked one of the only times (and potentially the first time) that this technique was used in a real-world attack. Dubbed 'promptware,' the attack method has raised concerns over the use of artificial intelligence in relation with smart home technology. However, many of those concerns are taken out of context and proportion. Is it a risk? Absolutely. Is it likely to happen to you? We'll put it like this: If it does, you should buy a lottery ticket. What is 'promptware?' This specific hack was performed through a 'prompt-injection attack.' The attack hid instructions inside a Google Calendar alert masked as a run-of-the-mill invitation. Its intention was to lie dormant until a user asked Gemini to summarize their schedule for the day, and then trigger based on a common, mundane response like 'thanks' or 'sure.' Once activated, the instructions would set off different devices within the home. It was a proof of concept; an actual attack would likely be less visible but could grant access to interior devices like cameras and speakers, or could open a backdoor to access information stored on the devices. What makes promptware a greater threat is that traditional firewalls, antivirus software, and other tried-and-true methods offer no protection against it. Typically security software isn't designed to protect against this unique blend of automation and social engineering. Social engineering itself has become a much larger threat in recent years. For those unfamiliar with the term, social engineering is the use of deception to manipulate someone into revealing private and/or personal information. Have you ever received a friend request on Facebook from an obviously false profile? That's a common first step. By creating a sense of trust through a familiar face and using the disconnected nature of the internet as a go-between, bad actors can prey on vulnerable targets. While using Gemini to control your smart home is convenient, you can improve your overall smart home security by restricting what Gemini and other AI agents have access to. The researchers behind the promptware study specifically suggest limiting access to smart home controls and personal calendars. What are the actual chances of a smart home being hacked? Here's the thing: most 'hacking' attempts aren't hacking at all. They're phishing or another lower-level form of violation. Having your password stolen and used against you isn't a hack in the true sense of the word, and something like the prompt-injection attack used by researchers requires a lot of effort. The majority of bad actors want to gain access to steal personal information that can be used for identity theft or to make a few credit card purchases. Sometimes that information is gathered and then sold to third parties. Hacking a smart home takes a lot of effort, especially as device security improves. Taking control of devices to turn lights on and off has more in common with juvenile pranks than it does with a coordinated effort to steal something. And unlocking someone's front door through a smart device, while a potential way to gain access to a home, is not a threat for the average person. If you're wealthy and live in a large house, there could be a higher chance of being targeted for theft — but a lot of break-ins (around 41%) are crimes of opportunity, and most burglars live relatively nearby the homes they break into. Unless you have wealth on display, most passers-by won't specifically aim for your home. That means keeping things subtle; no large TV boxes at the curb, no posting about new acquisitions on social media, etc. If you have a smart home, then you likely have a security system too. Good news on that front: when questioned, roughly 50% of burglars said a security system would deter them from a home. The truth is that nothing will stop a determined burglar, especially when the easiest method of entry is to kick down a door or break a window. But with most thieves targeting low-hanging fruit, a security system and smart home tech can actually serve as a deterrence. Your smart home is more likely to keep your home safe than it is to make it a threat. If you want to take steps to protect your smart home, we have numerous guides on how to do exactly that.
Daily Mail
28-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Colorado woman ordered $8,000 flying machine to indulge in new hobby... until porch pirate came prowling
A Colorado woman who ordered a custom $8,000 flying machine for her new hobby had it snatched from her in minutes by a menacing porch pirate. Erica Massey saved up for the expensive machine for more than a year after picking up paramotoring, also known as powered paragliding. After quickly falling in love with the unique hobby, the Denver resident decided it was time she got her own one-of-a-kind machine - but she never got her hands on it. The machine, which Massey described as 'a two-stroke engine on a backpack with a propeller,' was delivered outside her front door Saturday afternoon by a UPS driver but she had no idea. 'The UPS driver dropped off the package but didn't ring the bell or knock on the door, so even though I was home, I didn't know it was delivered,' Massey told KDVR. Soon after the delivery driver placed the package on her doorstep, a prowling thief ran up and took it as Massey's Ring camera captured the entire incident. An unidentified suspect - dressed in black pants, a gray hoodie and black baseball cap - was seen pulling up in an SUV before hopping Massey's fence, picking up the large package, throwing it into the vehicle and speeding away. Massey has not yet flown in the sky with one of the machines, but has put in hours of training on the ground hoping to soar one day. After seeing what happened, Massey said: 'I immediately started crying.' Although she is absolutely crushed the pricey device was stolen from her, Massey said the thieves wouldn't be able to use it because it is specifically designed for her. 'There's two of these engines in the U.S. and only one that is configured with the propeller and the cage size for me,' she told the outlet. Massey filed a report with the Denver Police Department about the theft, leading officers to come to her house to gather more information. She hopes the thieves or someone who knows about where her beloved package might be will come forward. 'It's something I've been working really hard toward, so that's devastating and if you could have a little bit of human empathy that would be great,' Massey said. Because the machine is so unique, Massey also hopes someone else in the paramotor community might recognize it. The box it came in has a 'Fly Products' logo on it, she stated. Anyone with information on where the flying device could be has been urged to contact the police. Massey is also offering a $1,000 reward for any information that leads to its return. Daily Mail contacted the Denver Police Department for more information. Paramotoring is regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under Part 103 of the Federal Aviation Regulations. Part 103, adopted in July 1982, defines 'ultralight vehicles in two categories: powered and unpowered,' according to the US Powered Paragliding Association.
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Yahoo
Jackson police seek public's help in finding man who was recorded trying to get into home
JACKSON−A Ring camera caught a man trying to get into a home on Jackson Mills Road Monday, and the police are asking for the public's help in identifying him. The victim, away at the time, received a ring notification that motion was detected. The man was recorded trying to enter the home by using his shirt to open it without leaving fingerprints, police said. The camera picked up an image of a detailed jewel-encrusted ring he wore on his right ring finger, police said. Before attempting to open the front door, he was also recorded opening a gate to the backyard and walking in, police said. The video surveillance footage showed a white sedan parked on Jackson Mills Road, but the license plate was not visible. The man was sporting a trimmed beard and wearing a white shirt, navy Yankees cap, blue Nike shorts and white sneakers. Police are urging anyone with information on the incident to email Police Officer Michael Zak at Mzak@ or call the police department at 732-928-1111. Tips can be made anonymously, police said. Ken Serrano covers crime, breaking news and investigations. Reach him at kserrano@ This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Man trying to enter Jackson home recorded on Ring camera; cops seek ID
