Can Eufy Cameras Be Hacked? Are They Safe?

Privacy and safety are likely at the forefront of your mind when shopping for a new smart home security system. You may have concerns about who (or what) can see your information. You might not want anyone to have access to your system’s recordings but you. So, if you’re considering purchasing a Eufy camera, you may be wondering if they can be hacked or are generally safe.

It is very unlikely that your Eufy camera will be hacked. Its information is encrypted, meaning that only certain users can access it. Additionally, Eufy cameras are programmed with a military-grade AES-256 chip. This is the same hardware that the NSA uses to safeguard information.

To hack your Eufy camera, the hacker would need to have a considerable level of skill—more so than the average programmer. Read on to learn more about the integrity of Eufy’s products and how the company strives to keep your information secure.

How Eufy Protects Users’ Information

Eufy stores information locally; this means that information is stored within the device itself, not on an external cloud. Cloud data relies on external servers, meaning that third parties can have access to this information. While the third party itself may not want to steal your information, this may not stop a hacker from doing so.  

Additionally, local data is deleted within five days of the initial recording. However, you can opt for cloud storage if you want to save data beyond this period.

Even if you opt for this extra feature, Eufy double encrypts sensitive information. They do this by encrypting data using Amazon Web Services (AWS). For an added protection, Eufy utilizes a transparent layer (TLS) and secure real-time protocol (SRTP) to prevent others from seeing your footage.

What Does “Encrypted” Mean?

We will use the following hypothetical scenario to describe how Eufy’s cameras encrypt information:

Suppose that your camera captured your friend ringing the doorbell. If you did not get the optional cloud storage plan, the footage would be recorded on the device. After five days, it would be automatically deleted––unless you downloaded it.

If you opted for the cloud storage plan, the recording would go onto Eufy’s secure server. Here, the recording’s code would be translated into something that another device (or user, for that matter) would not recognize.

When you view the footage from within the cloud, it will be transferred back to your device. The code will be translated back into something your computer, tablet, or phone can recognize. Encryption basically makes it so even if someone could gain access to your recordings, it would be very difficult for their device to recognize the code and show them the footage.

What Eufy’s Extra Layer of Protection Means for You

In 2019, Ring’s line of products came under fire when it was discovered that 3,000 accounts were compromised. Hackers had access to homeowners’ usernames and passwords, meaning that they could view live footage and make configurations to the devices themselves.

As of yet, Eufy has not had this problem. By storing information locally and using encrypted data, homeowners can reap the following benefits:

• Only users with valid log-in information can view recordings and live streams.
• Only certain users can be authorized to view footage; these alterations can be made through the app.
• Eufy’s military-grade AES-256 chip virtually eliminates the likelihood of hacking and other forms of security breaches.

You can share data with family members using the Family & Guest function on the Eufy Security app. This will allow authorized users to see information, but they must have a different email account than the one currently being used.

Eufy Does Not Sell Your Information

Have you ever made an account using your email address, only to receive spam mail from random organizations shortly afterward? This is probably because your email was included on a “customer list” and then sold to a third-party organization.

Eufy does not do this. When you create an account through the Eufy Security app, only you and Eufy will have access to that information. Not only does this cut down on the amount of junk mail in your inbox, but it grants you the peace of mind that only you have access to your cameras’ data.

Final Thoughts

When you purchase a Eufy camera, the number one goal is to keep your home and premises safe. Through real-time notifications, live footage, and artificial intelligence (AI) technology, you can monitor your property and be alerted to possible intrusions.

It is important to remember that nothing is “hack-free.” Hackers are always finding new ways to get around certain systems. However, with Eufy’s double-layer encryption techniques, lack of mandatory cloud storage, and military-grade hardware, it is very unlikely that your Eufy camera will be hacked.

You can learn more about how Eufy protects customers’ security by reading their privacy policy here.