
This product bills itself as a digital doggy daycare. It's got your two-way video chats and your treat dispenser and and a ringtone to let your dog know you are calling to check in. It's also got a scent diffuser for your pet's aromatherapy needs (seriously). And if you pay an extra subscription fee, it lets your dog watch DOGTV all day long or even give you "pet-to-parent messaging" with PawCall. Hey, a PawCall sounds way better than a Zoom call.
What could happen if something goes wrong?
Pet cams are an interesting connected device. They bring all the HD camera, two-way microphone, Cloud recording and smart alerts into your home, just like security cameras made by companies like Amazon, Google, and Simplisafe do. The question is, do they do as much as those companies to secure your data? And what about your privacy? These are all great questions.
PetChatz seems to do a pretty good job with privacy and we found no known security breaches or vulnerabilities in their cams. They don’t seem to sell your personal information and they say they won’t share any of your personal information without your consent. All good stuff. They do say they might share aggregated, de-identified information for marketing purposes. This doesn’t worry us too much, although it’s a good time to remind you that it’s been found to be pretty easy to de-anonymize some types of data and track down an individual’s patterns, especially with location data.
What's the worst that could happen? We suppose it's possible some terrible person could hack into your unprotected WiFi, access you Petchatz HDX, diffuse your pet's aromatherapy scents in the middle of the night giving you a sneezing fit which leads to insomnia which causes you to fall asleep at the wheel on your way to work the next morning and you wreck your car. Or, you know, they could just spy on you when you're naked. Really though, you'll probably be ok.
Tips to protect yourself
- Don't make the password your pet's name. Make it something harder to guess.
- Keep the camera's software up to date.
- Cover the lense when you're home and don't need to spy on your furry friend.
- Keep your WiFi network password protected with a strong password.
Can it snoop on me?
Camera
Device: Yes
App: Yes
Microphone
Device: Yes
App: Yes
Tracks location
Device: No
App: No
What can be used to sign up?
Yes
Phone
No
Third-party account
No
What data does the company collect?
Personal
Name, email, location, gender
Body related
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?
No known incidents in the last 3 years.
Can this product be used offline?
User-friendly privacy information?
Links to privacy information
Does this product meet our Minimum Security Standards?
Encryption
All server communication and video chats are encrypted.
Strong password
Security updates
Manages vulnerabilities
Privacy policy
Dive Deeper
-
Pet Camera Hacking: Concerns You Should KnowPetsho
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Tips To Protect Your Pet’s PrivacyFixMeStick
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Pet Camera Hacking: Concerns You Should KnowPetsho
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Spying on the Dog (or Cat)The New York Times
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These American dogs are under surveillance and they dont seem to careWashington Post
Comments
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