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Writer's pictureRebekah Watkins

Beware Smart Home Devices

Not to be an alarmist, but, as a security company we have recently had to teach recently separated singles how to disconnect their modem and reset their CCTV passwords, Airconditioning Apps, Google playlist family members, email accounts, Netflix sharing accounts and many other externally accessed appliances/electrical devices,  around the home as we have found the partner who has left the relationship/housing situation disgruntled and therefore seeking revenge any way they can to make the remaining person in that home feel as uncomfortable as possible by using the already gained passwords, by changing the settings on the devices they can and watching and listening to them on their own CCTV system.


This means the whole connected system to the cloud needs to be reset, rebooted sometimes, and passwords all reset so the occupier is the sole controller of those items.



Making your phone more secure:

  • Set a secure password and regularly change it

  • Turn off Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and GPS when you don't need them

  • Turn off all location services on apps

  • Block your number so it can't be identified when you call people

  • If you suspect your phone is infected with spyware, restore it to factory settings

  • For more advice call, 1800 Respect national helpline: 1800 737 732


The Federal Office of the safety commissioner in Australia has also found that iphones with “find my phone” capability is another way people can be tracked if the perpetrator has your password.


“Currently, prosecutors have to be able to show the court it was actually the perpetrator who hit 'Enter' on a harassing message.

The same goes for drones. Prosecutors have to be able to prove the perpetrator was flying the drone at the time.

NSW Police Assistant Commissioner Mark Jones said many of the examples could be covered by existing trespass or stalking laws and encouraged people with suspicions to make a report.”




CCTV Systems

With Hikvision CCTV systems only 1 person is the main user of the CCTV system and that 1 person can share and disconnect that access to anyone they choose.  If anyone tries to hack in to the system and take over it makes the whole system drop out until the original owner logs back in again.  A trained and accredited Hikvision Technician can change and reset the password to change the system over to new owners, and can disconnect the previous users.

We have found that the downside of buying cheap brand CCTV systems also doesn’t have that type of security and anyone who scans the QR code on the top of the recorder or within the systems platform can get access – from anywhere.  Those cheap Wifi cameras can be hacked into even easier without the user even being aware.  Also if the cheaper system comes with a house and the previous owners don’t unlink their connection to it through their smart phones and other devices then that CCTV cannot be accessed by the new owners on the App (it only records onsite) unless the new owners obtain a Statutory Declaration which they then have to provide to the business brand (e.g. Swann) who are the only ones to change this, and they can be very hard to get hold of as they are primarily located in other countries.


Family and domestic violence support:

·         1800 Respect national helpline:1800 737 732

·         Women's Crisis Line:1800 811 811

·         Men's Referral Service:1300 766 491

·         Lifeline (24 hour crisis line):131 114

·         Relationships Australia:1300 364 277

·         NSW Domestic Violence Line:1800 656 463

·         Qld DV Connect Womensline:1800 811 811

·         Vic Safe Steps crisis response line:1800 015 188

·         ACT 24/7 Crisis Line:(02) 6280 0900

·         SA Domestic Violence Crisis Line:1800 800 098

·         WA Women's Domestic Violence 24h Helpline:1800 007 339

·         NT Domestic violence helpline:1800 737 732

 

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