You put up home security cameras to feel safe. Experts say one forgotten setting could let a stranger in.
What’s Going on Security Cameras?
On 1 November 2026, UAE-based experts issued a warning. Unauthorized people can tap into home security cameras, watch live video, and go through old recordings. The family at home often has no idea.
Why Home Security Cameras Are Easy Targets
Your home security cameras sit on the internet all day, and that’s the problem. Many owners never change the default password or install updates. Others forget to remove access given during setup. Each of these gaps is an open door.
Who Else Might Have Access?
It isn’t always a hacker. Luis Santos, co-founder of First Class Property Management, points to a quieter risk, especially in holiday homes. Old guests, contractors, and previous operators can stay logged in to the home security cameras for months. Logins shared with others make it worse, and everyone assumes someone else has dealt with it.
One Family’s Unsettling Discovery
Bhavneet Kaur Sahni, CEO of Belvedere Marketing & PR, knows this first-hand. Her family had security cameras installed in 2023 by a person who also set up the app on their phones. In 2024, a fault in the recording system revealed he still had access. He admitted he’d watched the footage, saying he kept access in case of technical trouble. The family never gave him their passwords, and Sahni says realizing a stranger could see inside their home was frightening.
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What Can Strangers Learn From Your Footage?
Even a camera in the hallway tells a story. Cameras in common areas, not just bedrooms, can show what time you leave for work, when the kids get home and when nobody is in. If your home security cameras pick up sound, conversations can be heard too.
A weak camera may also give attackers a way towards other devices on your Wi-Fi. Sahni was careful to add that camera access doesn’t automatically mean control of the whole network.
How to Tell if Your Cameras Were Compromised
The tricky part is that hacked home security cameras usually work normally. Sahni’s own cameras seemed fine the whole time someone else had access. Look out for:
– Login alerts or unknown devices on your camera account
– Settings or permissions you didn’t change
– Cameras moving or turning on by themselves
– Indicator lights switching on without reason
Some systems give no sign at all, so make a habit of checking your account.
What to Do Right Now
Santos’s advice is blunt: if a camera acts strangely, unplug it from the network first and investigate later. After that, take these steps for your home security cameras:
– Change default passwords to strong, unique ones.
– Check who has access, especially if someone else installed the system.
– Switch on two-factor authentication where it’s available.
– Install firmware and app updates as soon as they appear.
– Keep cameras on a separate Wi-Fi from your phones and laptops.
Take Five Minutes for Your Home Security Cameras
Safety starts with knowing exactly who can see inside your home. A camera that works well isn’t always one that’s secure. Open your app today and look through the user list for your home security cameras. If you don’t recognize a name, remove it.
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