Unknown voice from camera

Cameras
41

@ rbruceporter It’s concerning that you think that. What company do you work for? I’d like to reconsider my faith in it… Considering you have no idea what’s happening on their servers to pair up your video to your account and your devices I’m amazed at your confidence in their code. Not trying to be a {jerk} but your false testimony isn’t helpful in this situation.

As a fellow IT guy and programmer, I too am skeptical but am confident that it’s totally possible. Databases get jumbled up, things happen.

MOD NOTE: Post edited to conform to the Community Guidelines

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42

I’m not insinuating that Wyze has an Elasticsearch database or that it is exposed to the internet. I’m also not insinuating that Wyze is not concerned about its user’s data and security…but I’m also saying it’s foolish to think that mistakes can’t, don’t, and/or won’t happen.

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43

Jayl - Sensible reply. Never say that something involving software is impossible unless you are intimately involved in the coding, understand every line of code (that may have been grabbed from somewhere else) and know that noboby else has had access to it.

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I know it’s not needed at this point, but just to backup those who have said it here: I work in software engineering/research as well. There are absolutely ways that this could happen beyond someone having a username and password. I don’t think Wyze people would do it, but like it’s been pointed out over and over, wires do get crossed and radio waves behave in weird ways. And no, the moon doesn’t need to be full and the stars aligned for weird stuff to happen or bugs to manifest themself.

Anyone that says otherwise is ignorant or trying to mislead you. Thanks for continuing to stick with this thread @Nasdme.

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45

Hi, thanks for reporting your issue. I checked your ticket. Given the info you provided, we checked that only one phone (it should be your phone) used Wyze app on your account. It is unlikely that another person hacked into your Wyze account. The best way is to check camera log but it was not included in the ticket. A camera usually stores 1-2 days of logs on itself (assuming no reboot in between). I think it is too late to get useful info from your cameras. We have a few logs that may be useful. We are checking now and will respond to you soon.

I understand you don’t have any useful event video for it. Do you happen to have SD cards installed in each of your camera? If yes, we can check if there is any sound from the specific day. That will be the best proof for the issue. If not, I suggest you get a SD card for each of your camera so you can check the footage+sound if it happens next time.

If it happens next time, please take out an SD card and insert into the camera. You should hear two chime sound and there should be a log_XXXXXXXX.txt on the card. Please collect log soon after the incident and send the log file to us. We can take a look.

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46

Hi - The log auto-generated when I reported the issue via the app. I will provide more details via email to you. Thanks

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47

Any and all brands have the potential of being hacked, Ring and Google Nest have had security issues in the past and continue to today. People have said this a lot but turning on 2FA for all of your accounts will help with protecting yourself (I use this on all my accounts).

Nothing on the web is 100% secure…you can only do your best to make it as difficult as possible. If a person can hack your webcam on the computer or your router, they can hack a webcam in your living room…but honestly the bigger question would be why would they. Usually they are looking for incriminating information, like nudes or people having sex, they aren’t going to watch you cook dinner. I wouldn’t put a webcam in a bedroom, personally, nor would I use one for a nursery.

If you want to watch a good video on webcam hacking, you can check out the Rogue Rocket on YT and webcam hacking. To me that is a bigger issue than someone hacking a wyze cam…billions of laptops in the world, only millions of wyze cams.

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48

I feel like you hear your iPhone’s Siri voice assistant.?

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49

The Wyze Camera is a transmitter and a receiver. Since this incident involved receiving mysterious audio, let’s focus on the receiver. It’s possible that the audio amplifier could have picked up some random audio signal and sent it to the speaker. I wonder how well shielded it is?

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50

First a few “FACTS”.

  1. While Google and AMAZON voice assistants are very helpful, both companies do capture and take data
    and video. (Just as Google Chrome).
  2. I have had both ANDROID and Apple iPhone(s) = BOTH capture all data and record conversations
    24/7. I was in a PRIVATE Corporate meeting with phone notice sounds turned off. In the discussion
    of business with client the phone SPOKE OUT AND SAID “i AM LOOKING THAT UP FOR YOU ON
    THE INTERNET NOW”. FROM THAT POINT ON, I left my Phone at my desk when attending
    meetings. and reported it to management for new meeting policies and technologies.
  3. SOFTWARE PLATFORMS - (MICROSOFT WINDOWS) If user takes time to read eery word of their
    policy for users they find that all data (emails sent/received) word documents created or received
    and the list goes on… Microsoft clearly states they have the right to retain copies from users. (that
    includes anything stored on MS Windows (Photos and videos as well).

SET ALL OF THAT ASIDE:

I set up my personal home security network on a SEPARATE ROUTER NETWORK / than what we have set up for Computer, IPADS, PHONES TO USE WIFI TO SAVE DATA COUNT, GAME CONSOLS, ROKU FOR TELEVISION AND MORE to tap into WIFI/network to access internet which includes GUEST and family members that visit my home.

I created my own voice command unit. I use LINUX based computer on the HOME SECURITY NETWORK.

It is isolated from outside access except from WIFI hackers that may ride to my residence. I challenge a local hack attempt.

They are welcome to try but I have that double layered with the most complex passwords ever. I also have $200.00 linux based pc that guards network from NEW Access into network. (Router with wifi has built in protection as well.)

Never go with basic settings of name and password. Get someone to go through router settings to beef it up some.

Everywhere you have WIFI device and password access. make the password impossible to figure out.
On WYZE devices and other brands.

(I have a password creator, I set the number of characters and it creates, logs under secured file I have on removable storage (sd card). I copy that one to a backup SD and both are put in safe place.

I USE WYZE HARDWARE. NO ISSUES WHAT SO EVER. HOWEVER, i DO NOT USE FEATURES THAT SEND DATA THROUGH INTERNET FOR PHONE TO ACCESS WHEN AWAY FROM HOME.

i HAVE A CHEAP USED PC RUNNING LINUX. iT RECEIVES MESSAGES FROM WYZE UNITS/ SENSORS ETC. iF IT DETECTS A “BREAK IN” LEVEL WARNING AND I know no one is home. I have a very loud siren and police are alerted to go to my home. I call them and tell them exactly what window or door was breached. They check it out. Cameras catch details. In that situation Police can obtain what they need without me there. Very good friends with Police, Fire, County and State Police in the area.

I periodically connect my HOME SECURITY NETWORK (FOR BRIEF MOMENT) TO INTERNET “AFTER” I RECEIVE NOTICE THERE ARE SOFTWARE/FIRMWARE updates available from WYZE.

THEN i DISCONNECT the Home Security Network from internet to it’s protected secure status.

AS FOR YOUR issue.
If you have google or amazon device connected. It can stem from there. Another home user with same device as all devices are not perfect can create cross communication issues.

Any connection to any other device other than WYZE leaves another vulnerable spot for access or ISSUES. I trust WYZE and their intent, product, services, software, etc…

JUST IN CASE there is an issue where POLICE need to access my camera recordings, (I only use cameras in locations IN DOORS pointing at “house access points” such as doors / windows, garage, Separate office/work area building inside, I have separate outside cameras that cover every window, door access with face recognition. I have long drive way. I use sensors/ camera for tag ID and face recognition (even if they just use drive way to turn around).
(Nobody wants footage of me coming from shower. LOL)

I have AMAZON purchased very bright LUMEN LED flood lights and placed them through all sectors of the property… (I have 2 acres.)

I also created 40 SMART DEVICES from watching YOUTUBE videos. Automation ran by Linux pc. I am now integrating WYZE products into my Linux full home manager.

EMBRACE technology but be smart on implementation.

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51

What’s odd about that? My cameras talk to me all the time;) We chat about the weather and work conditions; they even help me pick out clothes in the morning. But we never get into politics or religion b/c that would be rude. Of course, it is sometimes hard to distinguish between the camera voices and the voices that are normally in my head. Either way, I’m happy. The more the merrier!
Seriously though, this is why I don’t point any of my cameras inside my house. I have them facing out the windows and in the garage only, but never anywhere that could be deemed private. It’s not that I don’t trust the good intentions of Wyze programmers. But mistakes happen. To those people out there saying “not possible”, I wish that I lived in your unsuspecting world. The information just bounces too many places to put 100% trust in. As a rule of thumb, if it leaves your private (hopefully secure) network, treat it appropriately; always with some level of caution.
Having said all that, are you sure you didn’t just dream it? Happy sleeping…:zzz:

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52

Using a MAC address to confirm payment of a PPV or movie is very different than a voice coming through an iPhone. Even if a Wyze cam had the same MAC address of another, it shouldn’t allow a person to speak though your iPhone speaker. I agree that they might seem similar on the surface, but a cable box an iPhone are very different on how they are authenticated. An kid with $100 and an internet connection can clone a cable/model MAC address, but iPhone/authenticated app from the Apple App Store is very different.

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I have always wondered if someone could hack them and look into your house

54

There is an old saying to the effect of, anything man can devise, man can circumvent, corrupt, or otherwise mess with. So is it possible? Sure. Is it likely? I don’t think so but that’s my opinion not necessarily the gospel. Question is I suppose what do you think? And what do you consider a reasonable level of risk.

I worry a lot about known bad actors such as Google and Facebook. They are making money off everyone they can get their hooks into. I truly don’t think companies like Wyze are doing anything nefarious. But again, my opinion and YMMV. But I look at it this way, if I don’t trust a company or its products then I don’t buy them. But I also believe in Occam’s Razor, the simplest answer is usually the correct one. :grin::grin::grin:

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55

I believe that is true 99 percent of the time so it’s a good belief to go with. I will trust the company until I have a reason not to, like you said Google and Facebook have preoven multiple times they are not trustworthy, to me Wyze has not done this, therefore I am willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

There is only one way to make sure your cameras are not hacked, and that is to unplug them all remove them and throw them away.

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56

I’m not that naive. My anecdote was making the point the “100% no way that could happen because I’m an expert” is often a road you walk with a belly full of crow.

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57

I had a senior engineer back in 1983 tell me that he knew only one way to make a computer hack proof. Drop it into the sun. Nothing short of that was 100% safe.

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58

Recall that there was a documented case where guy was able to see into someone else’s house through their wyze cam. From what I recall, there was a situation with a “former owner” of the camera having their credentials still tied somehow to the camera mac address??? Isolated scenario, which they started was fixed, but it is possible to have “wires crossed”…

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Like I said anything is possible. I heard the same story but in this case it was an Amazon Echo device not a camera. That’s why I apply a grain of salt to “I heard” type stories. Show me a link to a reputable news source and I am a lot more inclined to give it credence.

Here is the version I read. https://www.reddit.com/r/amazonecho/comments/cm4g7m/bad_security_hole_with_routines/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x

60

You have ghost or someone spiritual trying to communicate. I have witness similar wording in a house with out camera with a distorted sound while I was working alone. It shook me for a minute but as I spoke out loud stated I am not here to damage anything I am fixing so you will be happy, it left me alone.