Warning: *privacy not included with this product
Simplisafe Security Cams
Review date: 11/02/2020
DIY security systems are all the rage these days. Simplisafe offers a plethora of motion sensors, water sensors, panic buttons, and these security cameras. At $99 a pop, the camera comes with the usual features -- HD video, motion detection, streaming to your phone via an app that lets you record with the push of a button. They even claim to use "intelligent detection algorithms" that can determine the heat signature of a human and only send alerts that matter. We like that they use high-level end-to-end encryption to protect your video feed. We don't like that when we emailed them to ask some questions, they signed us up for their email list without permission.
What could happen if something goes wrong
Boy howdy! One sure way to leave a privacy researcher unimpressed with your privacy practices--or lack thereof--is to sign them up to your email list without their permission when they email you to ask questions about your privacy practices. That's exactly what Simplisafe did when we reached out to them. Bad bad bad! They say they share your data, with consent, for marketing purpose. Which isn't too bad. But while videos are automatically deleted after 30 days, you can't delete them yourself. Which isn't great. What's could happen if something goes wrong? You want to delete a video a neighbor asked you to take down, find you can't, email Simplisafe to ask them to take it down, they eventually do but now you're signed up to their email list even though you didn't want that.
Privacy
Can it snoop on me?
Camera
Device: Yes
App: Yes
Microphone
Device: Yes
App: Yes
Tracks Location
Device: Yes
App: Yes
What is required to sign up?
Yes
Phone
No
Third party account
No
What data does it collect?
Personal
Name, address, contact information, demographic information
Biometric
Social
How can you control your data?
What is the company’s known track record for protecting users’ data?
In 2019, the YouTube channel LockPickingLawyer demonstrated how SimpliSafe’s home security system could be compromised by an $2 wireless emitter that mimics the frequency of its door and window contact sensors. Simplisafe disputed the claims.
Can this product be used offline?
User friendly privacy information?
Links to privacy information
Security
Does this product meet our Minimum Security Standards?
Encryption
The SS3 version uses encryption.
Strong password
Simplisafe rate-limits login attempts by account and IP address.
Security updates
Manages vulnerabilities
Simplisafe encourages responsible security vulnerability reporting. https://support.simplisafe.com/hc/en-us/articles/360040090812-How-do-I-report-a-possible-security-issue-in-the-system-
Privacy policy
Simplisafe lets you know in the privacy policy that you may be required to post a notice about your camera, depending on the privacy laws in your state.
Artificial Intelligence
Does the product use AI?
Does the AI use your personal data to make decisions about you?
Does the company allow users to see how the AI works?
Simplisafe uses intelligent detection algorithms to detect the unique heat signature of humans. They run the algorithms on the device and not the cloud.
