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Hacked Ring Devices Are Scaring Customers With Voices

By December 25, 2019May 9th, 2022Cybersecurity

On the Dark Web, there’s a live webcast show called “NulledCast” that few people have ever heard of. It’s pretty popular in Dark Web circles, though.

The premise of the show is this: The hosts will hack the cameras in home security systems and mess with the owners. Ring and Nest are the two most popular targets.

Recently, Ring has been getting the most attention, which has resulted in some of the NulledCast antics bubbling up from the Dark Web and being mentioned in mainstream news media.

The hackers are using recycled/re-used passwords to get access to the devices. The attacks range from annoying to creepy and disturbing.  In one case, the hackers took control of cameras at an animal shelter and using the shelter’s speakers, sent a message to a staffer there bragging about how they had just killed a kitten.

In another recent example, they took control of a Ring device used by a minority family and shouted racial slurs at them.  In still another, the hackers talked to and taunted to a young boy while he was playing video games in his room.

Yet another family was taunted by ghostly voices that suddenly started coming from their features, with the hackers laughing that they could still see the family, even as they began powering the cameras down.  Finally, another recent example included a creepy conversation with an eight year old girl that was instructing her to mess up her room and break her television set.

The people who are on the receiving end of these attacks have a range of reactions from being slightly unnerved to outright terrified, and unfortunately, there’s no end in sight.  Smart devices like most of the home security systems sold today and a raft of other appliances have notoriously poor security, if they have any at all, which is why shows like NulledCast are so easy to produce.  If you use a Ring Device, be aware that someone may be watching.

Jason Manteiga

Jason J. Manteiga, Vice President of Olmec Systems, has been part of the company for over the past 20 years. He believes that having a great work environment and supportive team, is the ultimate key to success. Since being in the IT realm for over 25 years, Jason, along with Olmec Systems, has been on the Inc. 5000 “List of America’s Fastest Growing Private Companies” and Channel Futures MSP 501 “Top Managed Service Providers in North America,” along with other awards and nominations. Jason earned his Bachelor Degree in Information Systems from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. He also holds certifications in Microsoft MCSE, VMWare VCP, and Cisco CCNA. In his spare time, Jason is a contributor for The Center for Social & Legal Research (Privacy Exchange) and a member of the Morris County Chamber of Commerce. His hobbies include cycling and kayaking. He currently lives in New Jersey with his wife, two daughters and son.