Smart data privacy is the new norm in security

The year 2020 was a tumultuous one. It changed the world. But most importantly, it changed the way we embraced technology in the way we work, study, or socialize. With this heightened dependence on technology, the data generated, and its security comes into question. This inadvertently poses the risk of data breach across different facets of our life – right from home security data leakage, to phishing, or any kind of cyberattack. In fact, home security cameras and routers are top devices that hackers can easily target, as connected device manufacturers often do not pay enough attention to built-in security. Incidences of data breach has increased over the years. From organizations being threatened to pay ransom for data security to celebrities’ data being leaked publicly – data privacy is a concern that haunts all of us.

According to our recent study - The Coccoon Effect by Godrej Security Solutions, the pandemic has triggered a need with approximately 46% people more likely to adopt home and health security gadgets. While home and health security awareness has increased, the concern for data privacy while buying these products is given almost no consideration. We often focus on protecting our data on our smartphones or computers because they contain so much personal information. However, the same level of diligence is not applied to home security cameras, posing massive risk to our most private details.

As per a recent report by Bloomberg, a group of hackers breached a massive trove of security-camera data collected by Silicon Valley startup Verkada Inc., gaining access to live feeds of 150,000 surveillance cameras inside hospitals, companies, police departments, prisons and schools. In addition, hackers were able to view video from inside women’s health clinics, psychiatric hospitals and the offices of Verkada itself. This goes on to show the low awareness about data security when it comes to surveillance of indoor settings. Our home is considered as the safest abode. Any data leak from our safest space can have a great impact on our peace of mind. Here are some aspects one should be mindful of to ensure your connected home is also a secure home.

Encrypted data: Opt for security gadgets that transfer data over secure cloud servers that are located in India apart from storing it in SD cards. This is one of the best ways to safeguard your data. For instance, if the feed captured by the cameras is secured via AES 256-bit encryption, you can be assured of the highest grade of security available currently. Data encryption is a security method where your information is translated and can only be accessed by one who has permission. Moreover, with the cloud servers being based in India, it significantly reduces the number of hops the data takes from the camera feed to the mobile phone, providing improved connectivity speed and less data latency.

Right set of certifications: Always check the certifications for the home security gadgets you install in your home. The right certification, such as VAPT (vulnerability and penetration attack tested) will ensure your data is safeguarded against real world cyber threats. Do your research on smart home security products available in the market and only invest in devices which come with certifications that are trustworthy.

Secure storage plans: Look for products that offer good video storage plans in your home security camera. This ensures critical video is always available on the cloud. The cloud-based storage in such cameras offers increased security against tampering, as opposed to SD cards, which could be exposed to data theft.

Security etiquette: Follow basic security etiquette to protect your devices from unauthorized intrusions. Always change your default passwords and use different passwords for different devices. Update these passwords frequently. Just taking these simple measures can significantly increase your security.

Ensuring home security and data privacy goes hand in hand. No one should have to give up their privacy just because their home security cameras don’t secure their data. Don’t let the data protection facet of home security devices overwhelm you. Look for solutions that will keep your home and loved ones safe, while also protecting your data.

The author is Mehernosh Pithawalla, Vice President, Godrej Security Solutions