As a new parent, it’s only normal to want to keep an eye on your baby at all times. Thanks to technology, a baby monitor with screen and app is available on the market. You can keep tabs on your baby, especially when they are sleeping in their room.
There are three types of monitors: video baby monitors, baby breathing monitors, and WiFi baby monitors. WiFi baby monitors have become increasingly popular because of their advanced features. As technology constantly develops, it brings new and better devices to the market every day. But, are WiFi baby monitors safe?
How WiFi Baby Monitors Work: The Technology Behind the Convenience
WiFi baby monitors use a wireless internet connection to transmit signals between you and your baby’s room. With a good internet connection, you will be able to watch your baby anywhere.
The monitor transmits its signal to the WiFi router, which in turn transmits the signal over the internet to any authorized device, such as your phone. You can use the WiFi baby monitor even without providing a separate paired receiver, since any device can connect to the internet can be a receiver. Some monitors have multi-screening if you’ve got another family member looking after your baby.
Most WiFi baby monitors require you to use an app to remotely control the camera and watch the live feed on your device. These apps can provide some additional features, such as analyzing your baby’s sleep pattern with AI algorithms or detecting your baby’s movements.
However, WiFi baby monitors cannot operate if you’re experiencing internet connection issues or you don’t have WiFi in your area, since they need an internet connection to function.
Potential Security Risks: Can WiFi Baby Monitors Be Hacked?
While a WiFi baby monitor allows you to keep an eye on your little one from anywhere, they are vulnerable to hacking. Anything that is connected to the internet can be accessed by hackers and cybercriminals. You might have heard of these terrifying baby monitor hacking stories.
Any type of baby monitor is prone to hacking, but a WiFi baby monitor is the easiest to hack into. Hackers can gain access to your WiFi router to control your baby monitor if you use a private home WiFi router to connect with your baby monitor. They can also access other internet-enabled devices connected to your WiFi network.
Hackers can also gain control of your baby monitor through public WiFi. As long as you have a stable internet connection, you can control your WiFi baby monitor from anywhere. If you’re using a public WiFi on your baby monitor, hackers can easily bypass your password and access your monitor.
Health Concerns: Are WiFi Baby Monitors Safe for Your Baby’s Exposure?
As a parent, it’s important to consider the baby monitor health safety and dangers that WiFi baby monitors may pose to your baby’s health. Baby monitors can be significantly helpful to monitor your baby and detect potential Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). However, the more features your baby monitor has, the higher the level of radiation your baby will be exposed to.
- Every type of baby monitor uses a range of radio frequencies to transmit audio and video signals from the monitor to the receiver. Different models of baby monitors, including WiFi baby monitors, will emit different ranges of radio frequency, and some could cause potential health hazards for your baby.
A baby has a thinner skull to allow continued growth and the development of the brain until about the age of 20, when they are fully developed. This is why a baby’s brain is very sensitive to the effects of electromagnetic radiation during these years.
As a baby’s brain is developing very quickly, even small exposures to electromagnetic frequencies can have significant long-term impacts. Some of the dangers of exposure to electromagnetic radiation include:
- Disruption of your baby’s sleep cycle
- Incomplete or problematic development of the brain
- Negative impact on the immune system and reproductive system
How to Enhance the Security of Your WiFi Baby Monitor
A WiFi baby monitor is a perfect device to keep track of your child at times. Here are ways to enhance the security of your WiFi baby monitor.
- Create a strong password for your baby monitor
Make sure you change the default login details and create a strong password when you install your baby monitor.
- Secure your wireless router
Ensure your router’s firmware is always updated. Disable remote router access if you changed the default setting, and create a strong WiFi password. Never leave your WiFi network open, and having a password-protected WiFi reduces the possibility of a hacker gaining access to your network.
- Update the firmware for your monitor’s camera
Keeping updated with the latest firmware for your baby monitor is also a way to keep it from hackers. Steps for updating your camera’s firmware depend on the manufacturer of the monitor you purchased.
- Disable Dynamic Domain Name System (DDNS) and Port Forwarding or UPnP
If applicable, you may also want to disable DDNS on your monitor’s camera and disable port forwarding. This will depend on the specific product you purchased and can be adjusted in its settings.
- Disable remote access to your monitor’s camera
Most baby monitors allow you to remotely access them through the internet. While this feature is convenient, it is not recommended from a security standpoint.
When you enable internet access to your baby monitor, it removes the barriers a hacker would have to penetrate to compromise it. Unless you disable remote access, all that stands between the hacker to the monitor is the remote access password you created. To be as secure as possible, disabling it is the best option.
Comparing WiFi Baby Monitors to Non-WiFi Models: Which Is Safer?
Unlike WiFi baby monitors, non-WiFi baby monitors do not need an internet connection to transmit video and audio. Similar to radio signals, non-WiFi baby monitors use FHSS or DECT to connect you to your baby in real-time. Since they use non-static channels, they are more secured compared to WiFi baby monitors.
While WiFi baby monitors use a smartphone as the parent unit, a non-WiFi monitor has a dedicated parent unit, which you can use to monitor your baby. It also has a screen and a speaker.
Non-WiFi baby monitors are relatively more secure, since FHSS radio waves are used for transmission, and the frequency channels used to transmit signals are non-static, which are almost impossible to hack.
Choosing a Secure WiFi Baby Monitor: Features to Look For
WiFi baby monitors are prone to hacking if your network is not secured enough or if a hacker finds a way to bypass your passwords. Most baby monitors have their own firmware that might have bugs or lack automatic updates. If someone figures out how to bypass a specific monitor model, there’s a chance they can access any device within that product model line.
If you want to purchase a WiFi baby monitor, you can increase your security by making sure to choose one that allows you to change the password and comes with automatic firmware updates. You also need to be very careful with your wireless network security, since these types of devices need it to function.
How Do You Know if Your WiFi Baby Monitor Has Been Compromised
While your WiFi baby monitor allows you to remotely view your baby, it also becomes available for hackers to target. Hackers can access your WiFi network from anywhere by accessing or gaining your passwords.
A baby monitor that has been hacked allows the hacker to use the same features you have. They can also pan across the room, zoom in and out, and use the talk-back feature. Knowing that your monitor has been hacked might not always be so obvious. Here’s how to spot if your baby monitor has been compromised:
- Unusual change in color or flashing of the LED lights on the camera monitor
Most WiFi baby monitors have LED lights that automatically turn on when someone receives video footage from their camera. If you notice your monitor’s LED lights are blinking unusually, a hacker may be viewing the video footage from the camera.
- Unrecognizable noises coming from the monitor
This is the most common sign that your baby monitor has been hacked. In many baby hacking stories, a sign that their baby monitor was hacked was strange voices from the monitor. This can be scary for your child. Always listen for any unusual noises or voices coming out of your baby monitor.
- The baby monitor is moving on its own
One way to know if your WiFi baby monitor has been hacked is if it’s remotely rotating on its own. Hackers do this to spy on your baby’s room and to see if there are any adults around.
Conclusion
So, are WiFi baby monitors safe? The answer depends on how you use them. While these devices are perfect tools for monitoring your baby, they still have potential risks, including health concerns and security vulnerabilities. Just make sure that you place your baby monitor far away enough to your baby to minimize exposures and that your network is secure and limiit as much as possible of broadcasting of video feed outside of your own private network. With this, you can ensure the safety of your baby while minimzing risks.
