Budget doorbell camera manufacturer fixes security issues that left users vulnerable to spying

Eken Group has reportedly issued a firmware replace to resolve main safety points with its low-cost doorbell cameras that had been uncovered by a Shopper Experiences investigation earlier this yr. The cameras in query pair with the Aiwit app and are bought beneath a slew of brand name names, together with Eken, Tuck, Fishbot, Rakeblue, Andoe, Gemee and Luckwolf. Throughout its checks, the watchdog found that the unencrypted cameras could expose sensitive information like house IP addresses and Wi-Fi networks, and permit outdoors events to entry photos from a digicam’s feed utilizing its serial quantity. Now, Consumer Reports says the problems have been mounted — simply be sure you replace your units.

Gadgets from these manufacturers ought to now replicate a firmware model of two.4.1 or larger, which might point out they’ve obtained the replace. Shopper Experiences says its personal samples received the replace robotically, however it could possibly’t harm to double verify in your settings contemplating the dangers (that’s, in the event you haven’t tossed the cameras out already). The publication says it’s confirmed that the replace fixes the safety issues. Eken additionally instructed Shopper Experiences that the 2 doorbell cams it had rated with the “Don’t Purchase” label — the Eken Good Video Doorbell and Tuck Sharkpop Doorbell Digital camera — have been discontinued.

These doorbell cameras, which had been bought on widespread ecommerce platforms together with Amazon, Walmart and Temu however since seem to have been pulled, additionally lacked the right labeling required by the FCC. The corporate instructed Shopper Experiences it’ll add these IDs to new merchandise transferring ahead. Following its checks of the replace, Shopper Experiences has eliminated the warning labels from its scorecards.