A popular type of video doorbell has major security flaws that can allow hackers to spy on homeowners who use the technology, according to recent testing by Consumer Reports.
Test engineers at the publication were able to hack doorbells made by the manufacturer Eken and sold under various brands. They also found issues with doorbells sold under the brand Tuck.
In addition, the doorbells do not have a visible ID issued by the Federal Communications Commission. Technically, that makes it illegal to distribute them in the U.S., according to CR.
Thousands of this brand of video doorbell are sold each month at Amazon, Walmart, Shein, Temu and other marketplaces, CR says.
Eken has responded to CR’s findings by saying it will add the ID, which will be available on new doorbells within about a month. It also said it was addressing CR’s other findings.
CR says it also reached out to Tuck and Amazon but did not receive a response.
However, CR is sounding a warning about the products, saying they are “just a drop in the flood of cheap, insecure electronics from Chinese manufacturers being sold in the U.S.”
In the article about the findings, Justin Brookman, director of technology policy for CR, says:
“Big e-commerce platforms like Amazon need to take more responsibility for the harms generated by the products they sell. There is more they could be doing to vet sellers and respond to complaints. Instead, it seems like they’re coasting on their reputation and saddling unknowing consumers with broken products.”
If you are worried about your video doorbell’s security status, CR recommends disconnecting it from your home Wi-Fi and removing it from your door. CR says other video doorbells offer “much better security,” including those sold under the following brands:
- Logitech
- SimpliSafe
- Ring
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