---
title: "Watch Terrifying Creeps Hack Ring Cameras and Spy on Families"
description: "Creeps have used Ring cameras to hack into customers' homes, using the internet-connected cameras to spy on and harass families and children."
date: "2019-12-12"
modified: "2019-12-12"
authors:
  - name: "Dan Robitzski"
    link: "https://futurism.com/authors/danrobitzski.md"
url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/watch-creeps-hack-ring-cameras-spy-families"
categories:
  - "Cybersecurity"
  - "Future Society"
  - "Hacking"
tags:
  - "Amazon"
  - "cybersecurity"
  - "privacy"
  - "ring"
  - "the digest"
---

# Watch Terrifying Creeps Hack Ring Cameras and Spy on Families

![Creeps have used Ring cameras to hack into customers' homes, using the internet-connected cameras to spy on and harass families and children.](<https://futurism.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/watch-creeps-hack-ring-cameras-spy-families1.jpg>)
*\<em\>Image: Ashley LeMay\</em\>*

## Growing Trend

This week alone, there were four high-profile cases of creeps [hacking into Amazon Ring cameras](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/researchers-security-hole-amazon-ring-smart-doorbell.md>) that families had installed inside their homes and using them to harass or spy on them.

In one, a man used the camera's speaker to harass a family with racist comments and by triggering their alarm, [according to *The Cut*](<https://www.thecut.com/2019/12/amazon-ring-security-cameras-hacked-in-peoples-homes.html>). In others, predators spied on and communicated with children through the cameras that had been installed in their bedrooms. The takeaway: putting a poorly-secured smart camera inside your home can readily put your family at risk.

https://twitter.com/Jessica_Holley/status/1204505193003573250

## Change Your Passwords

A spokesperson for Ring told *The Cut* that the hackers didn't actually bypass the camera's security systems. Instead, they said, the individual users had used easily-guessed passwords or failed to enable security protocols like [two-factor authentication](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/japan-hack-devices-olympics.md>).

But it seems unfair to expect customers to also become cybersecurity experts before buying their cameras — wouldn't it be trivial for Amazon and Ring to make two-factor authentication a default setting or even a requirement for camera access?

https://twitter.com/LacyHartzler/status/1204482260604506113

**READ MORE:** [Terrifying Videos Show Men Hacking Into Home Security Cameras](<https://www.thecut.com/2019/12/amazon-ring-security-cameras-hacked-in-peoples-homes.html>) \[*The Cut*\]

**More on Ring:** *Smart Doorbells That Call The Police Are Going to Endanger Some Innocent People*

## Author
Dan Robitzki is a senior reporter for Futurism, where he likes to cover AI, tech ethics, and medicine. He spends his extra time fencing and streaming games from Los Angeles, California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://x.com/danrobitzski>)

## More

- [Man Sues Amazon, Claims Ring Camera Hackers Harassed His Kids](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/ring-lawsuit-amazon-camera-hackers-harassed-kids.md>)
- [Amazon Employees Were Watching Ring Footage For Fun](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/amazon-employees-watching-ring-footage.md>)
- [Amazon Will Let Police Livestream Your Ring Doorbell Camera](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/amazon-police-livestream-ring-doorbell-camera.md>)
- [Hackers Can Spy on and Hijack Amazon Doorbell’s Video Feed](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/researchers-security-hole-amazon-ring-smart-doorbell.md>)
- [New TV Show Made From Viral Ring Camera Surveillance Footage](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/new-tv-show-made-from-viral-ring-camera-surveillance-footage.md>)
- [Oops: FBI Says Criminals Are Using Ring Cameras to Spy on Cops](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/fbi-criminals-using-ring-cameras-spy-cops.md>)
- [Amazon Announces Security Drone That Flies Around Your Home](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/amazon-security-drone-flies-around-home.md>)
- [Florida Police Cut a Secret Deal to Promote Amazon’s Ring Cameras](<https://futurism.com/the-byte/florida-police-secret-deal-amazon-ring-cameras.md>)