Warning: *Privacy Not Included with this product
Eufy Security Cams
Eufy makes both indoor and outdoor security cameras to keep an eye on your home, your pets, and your neighborhood. They offer the standard features--HD video, live streaming, two-way audio, night vision. You store your data locally on a microSD card or on Eufy's HomeBase video storage and management box. Then live stream your video to your phone in the Eufy app where they use strong end-to-ed encryption to protect your video. For pet owners, the cameras use an AI that detects and sends a notification if you pet is present. These cameras even have a feature that lets you play a warning message to your pooch if he goes in the living room when he's not supposed to. Humans love it. Dogs, not so much. As for privacy and security, well, Eufy could do better there.
What could happen if something goes wrong?
In 2021 your intrepid *Privacy Not Included researcher decided she needed some indoor security cams to help keep an eye on her beloved kitty while away on a trip for a couple of nights. Being a privacy researcher, the one feature I demanded in my security cams was that all video be stored locally where I had control over it, not out on the internet in the less secure cloud. So I bought Eufy’s security cams for their local storage and because at the time they seemed to do a pretty good job protecting my personal data. Unfortunately, taking a look back at Eufy’s (actually, their parent company Anker’s) privacy policy in 2022 leaves me a bit worried about my decision.
And this is a common problem with connected products. Companies reserved the right to update their privacy policy at any time. And so overnight a company’s privacy policy can go from good to bad, or from OK to not-so-OK at least. That seems to be what happened with Eufy. A company I felt pretty OK with in the past now earns our *Privacy Not Included warning label. Boo!
Eufy says they can collect a good deal of personal information on you -- things like name, email, gender, birth date, location, device information, and more. And while Eufy says they don’t sell your personal information -- which is good -- they say they can use that information to show you ads from them and third party advertisers, which isn’t so good (but also pretty standard on the internet these days). They also say they can collect personal information on you from third parties who provide it to them, such as law enforcement authorities. This worries us a bit because the way that line in their privacy policy is written is rather vague and seems like it could leave open the possibility they could collect information on users from a variety of third parties, for example, data brokers.
Eufy’s security cameras still do some really good privacy-related things. We really like that your security cam footage is stored locally where only you can access and control it, not in the much less secure cloud (there is a cloud option though). You can access your videos at any time through the Eufy app, and that footage is protected by strong end-to-end encryption. This is all very cool. Eufy's AI provides human, pet, and crying detection for what your security cams see. One key value of Eufy's local storage is that all AI analysis of humans and crying babies is done locally, which ensures privacy and is usually much quicker than cloud-based AI analysis. One other advantage of Eufy’s local storage of video is it makes it harder for law enforcement to get their hands on it without your consent, which is a good thing.
Unfortunately, Eufy has also had some significant security vulnerabilities. In June 2022, security experts found three security vulnerabilities in Eufy's Homebase 2 video storage and management device that could have allowed hackers to take control of the hub, control it remotely, or steal video footage. Eufy/Anker developed fixes for these security vulnerabilities and released them to users in a timely manner. And in May 2021, Eufy was forced to apologize for a bug that exposed the camera feeds of 712 users to strangers. Eufy said the glitch happened during a software update and “users were able to access video feeds from other users’ cameras.” Eufy said in a statement the glitch was fixed an hour after it was discovered. So, the bad news is, Eufy’s security cameras have had some serious security issues. The good news is, Eufy seems to have stepped up and immediately fixed these bugs and to get them out to their users quickly.
What’s the worst that could happen with Eufy’s security cameras? Well, strangers getting access to the video feeds of cameras in and around your home is pretty dang awful. That is always a concern with security cameras in your home. And while it is great that Eufy has local storage to help keep those videos of you and your cat kissing under your control, it’s not so great that Eufy has a history of security vulnerabilities that could leave those cat kissing video open to hackers.
Tips to protect yourself
- Keep your camera firmwave up to date
- Protect your Wi-Fi router with a strong password
- Do not sign up with third-party accounts. Better just log in with email and strong password.
- Chose a strong password! You may use a password control tool like 1Password, KeePass etc
- Use your device privacy controls to limit access to your personal information via app (do not give access to your camera, microphone, images, location unless neccessary)
- Keep your app regularly updated
- Limit ad tracking via your device (eg on iPhone go to Privacy -> Advertising -> Limit ad tracking) and biggest ad networks (for Google, go to Google account and turn off ad personalization)
- Request your data be deleted once you stop using the app. Simply deleting an app from your device usually does not erase your personal data.
- When starting a sign-up, do not agree to tracking of your data if possible.
- Turn on the Two-step verification
Can it snoop on me?
Camera
Device: Yes
App: Yes
Microphone
Device: Yes
App: Yes
Tracks location
Device: Yes
App: Yes
What can be used to sign up?
Yes
Phone
No
Third-party account
No
What data does the company collect?
Personal
Name, email address
Body related
Face images and underlying face prints (if you choose to enable imaging and biometric features).
Social
How does the company use this data?
How can you control your data?
What is the company’s known track record of protecting users’ data?
In June 2022, three security vulnerabilities were found in Eufy's Homebase 2 video storage and management device that could have allowed hackers to take control of the hub, control it remotely, or steal video footage. Eufy/Anker developed fixes for these secruity vulnerabilities and released them to users in a timely manner.
In May 2021, Eufy was forced to apologize for a bug that exposed the camera feeds of 712 users to strangers. Eufy said the glitch happened during a software update and “users were able to access video feeds from other users’ cameras.” Eufy said in a statement the glitch was fixed an hour after it was discovered.
Child Privacy Information
Can this product be used offline?
User-friendly privacy information?
Structured and concise.
Links to privacy information
Does this product meet our Minimum Security Standards?
Encryption
Strong password
Security updates
Manages vulnerabilities
Privacy policy
Dive Deeper
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It’s Not Just Ring. Google, SimpliSafe, and Others Could Share Video Footage With Police Without Consent.Consumer Reports
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Vulnerability Spotlight: Vulnerabilities in Anker Eufy Homebase could lead to code execution, authentication bypassCisco Talos Intelligence Blog
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If you have this smart home hub, update it now or hackers can take over and steal your security cam footageKomando.com
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The Best Indoor Security CamerasWired
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Anker Eufy smart home hubs exposed to RCE attacks by critical flawBleepingComputer
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Why We Don’t Trust Apple’s HomeKit Secure Video—and You Shouldn’t EitherWirecutter
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Here’s Anker’s apology after 712 Eufy customers had camera feeds exposed to strangersThe Verge
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Eufy Updated Official StatementEufy
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Eufy says software 'bug' that exposed users' video footage to strangers has been fixedCNET
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Anker’s Eufy division pledges to bolster security following privacy snafu, apologizes againTechHive
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Huge Eufy privacy breach shows live and recorded cam feeds to strangers9to5Mac
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Eufy security cameras hit with bug giving access to users feedsPoc Network
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Eufy responds to huge privacy breach, attributes unauthorized camera access to server ‘bug’9 to 5 Mac
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Anker's Eufy Cameras Caught Uploading Content to the Cloud Without User ConsentMacRumors
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