In the age of surveillance, it feels like you’re constantly being watched. And it’s not all paranoia. As retailers like Target and Walmart crack down on loss prevention, being on camera has become the norm. But what about when you’re being monitored by something that’s supposed to make you feel safe? This was one woman’s experience after her Ring camera allegedly got “hacked.”
Brenda (@brendajas26) shared a TikTok revealing a voice emanating from her Ring doorbell camera. In the caption Brenda provides more context, writing, “Brought my ring camera inside to charge and after sometime I noticed the blue light was on and when i walked closer that’s when i started hearing the creepy voice saying ‘I see you,’ Ring camera gets hacked.”
Indeed, in the clip one can hear a voice repeatedly saying “I see you!” as Brenda shows the Ring camera to her viewers. Then there’s a laugh or a chuckle as the blue light turns off.
Despite it being a mere 22 seconds, the TikTok received a whopping 7 million views, with folks unsure of what to make of Brenda’s discovery.
People Are Creeped Out
A plethora of users shared reaction images in the comments section, mostly depicting shock or fear. Others shared what they would do if they were in Brenda’s situation.
“Why aren’t you covering the camera!” a top comment demanded, while another asked whether Brenda called Ring to report it.
“Ur better than me I would be screaming into that thing so hard id bite into it,” another user said.
At least one user speculated that what Brenda was hearing wasn’t a hacker trying to creep her out but interference from another device, such as a baby monitor.
“Could it possible be interfering with a baby monitor and that’s a dad talking to his baby? It sounded like a baby after the second ‘I see you,’” they wrote.
Another urged Brenda to use two-factor authentication on all her accounts, while others told her to change her password. Brenda followed this advice, as in her update post she shares how she changed her password and nothing has happened since.
“But I am still very creeped out wondering how long they were watching what they saw and why they did it,” Brenda added in the on-screen text.
Can Your Ring Camera Get Hacked?
Home cameras being hacked is not unheard of, especially if they are Wi-Fi-enabled. For instance, one mom said she caught a man talking to her toddler in the middle of the night through their Ring camera. Additionally, a study revealed how more than 40,000 cameras are streaming live on the internet, where anyone can view them.
The Federal Trade Commission even has a guide on how to protect your home cameras from being viewed by an outside party. Some of the tips include:
- Using a strong password on your router
- Checking that the router’s firewall is turned on
- Ensuring your router has the latest software updates
- Checking that your wireless network is encrypted with WPA3 or WPA2
Ring Cameras And Allegations Of Hacking
Ring cameras made headlines last month after several videos about the alleged hacking went viral on TikTok. Several users reported seeing a “breach” in their home camera system on May 28. They reported seeing logins on their devices they never approved. However, Ring stated that it was just a display issue, and no data breach had occurred.
If you suspect your camera has been hacked, however, Security.org outlines a few telltale signs:
- Unrecognizable noise is coming out of your cameras’ speakers
- Your cameras’ LED lights are on unexpectedly
- Your cameras’ pan and/or tilt unexpectedly
- Your password stops working, but you haven’t changed it
- Your account was accessed on an unknown device.
UPDATE: A Ring spokesperson told BroBible that the company takes “customer privacy and security extremely seriously and are trying to get in contact with this customer.”
“We encourage any customer who believes they may have experienced a security issue to contact Ring Customer Support directly at 1-800-984-7464 or through help.ring.com. Our support team is available 24/7 to assist with any concerns,” they added.
BroBible reached out to Brenda via TikTok direct message.