Back when we were kids, there used to be this game we played where we would creep up to someone’s front door, press the doorbell and then run away as fast as we could. It would drive the residents crazy because they could never catch the perpetrators. Throughout the passing decades we have seen many versions of the same game but now, thanks to Ring doorbell, there is no longer anonymity to the game.
Technology truly is a wonderful thing in many ways. It has allowed us to accomplish so much in the last ten years alone and now, as we continue to step into the future, we see many of the older inventions being ramped up and fitted with many new and exciting improvements.
For example, take the plain and uninteresting doorbell. Before the doorbell we used to just use our knuckles and hammer out a staccato rhythm. Then doorbells came into being. But we would still have to stop what we were doing and go and check who was at the door. Since the advent of the Ring doorbell, however, this has now become no longer been necessary.
It is now entirely possible to carry on with what you were doing whilst you check the notification on your mobile device and are able to see live footage of your caller. You are also able to talk to the person at your front door without actually being anywhere in the vicinity of the front door. This does make it a lot safer for those in the home.
But even though the Ring doorbell is an incredible creation and allows for a lot more physical safety and security due to the fact that one doesn’t need to open the door personally, one is still subject to a different type of attack from the ever lurking cyber criminals.
So, how do you make sure that you have secured your Ring doorbell and are protecting your privacy and personal data? Let’s take a meander through the front door of Amazon and find out just how to do all this and more with their Ring doorbell product.
The Ins And Outs
Having a smart doorbell is all very fine and well but what about hackers and online pirates? How do we protect ourselves against them and prevent them from gaining access to our most personal data and all of the videos and recordings from our Ring doorbell?
First off, it is important that we understand the safety implications of giving others in the home or family circle access to our Ring login details. With your login details they would be able to make changes to security protocols you have in place and also be able to change settings.
It would be far safer, in this case, to allow them access to your Ring device by adding them as a shared user. This will ensure that you are able to manage who has access to what devices via the control centre.
The next thing that you need to be aware of is the fact that the hackers and internet scoundrels are not hacking your device itself, they are in actual fact, hacking you. More precisely, they hack into the methods you use to secure your devices. This is turn means that the more lax you are about your password protection and security, the easier it will be for them to hack you.
It is easy to grow complacent, often using the same password for several different accounts or not using a strong enough password. However, if you do this then you are definitely opening yourself up to the evils of the dark web and its host of dreaded perpetrators.
Security and Protection First and Foremost
One of the main ways to secure and protect your Ring doorbell is to make sure that you are using a two step verification process. What this means is that you will need to type in a verification code when you log in to your Ring account. The code will be sent to you via text message or email (this will be the number or email address which you used when signing up).
Ring does have its own two factor verification process which you need to enable when you set up your device, but if you didn’t do that then you are able to do it afterwards following these few easy steps.
Firstly, open up the Ring app on your device. Then you will need to left-click on the Menu icon in the upper left-hand corner and select Settings. This opens up the Account Settings page, where you will need to click on Two – Factor Authentication under the heading Advanced Security.
Next, choose how you would like to receive your verification code. You can choose to either receive it via text message or else via email.
Once you have done that, you will need to confirm that you want to turn on Two-Factor Authentication and then you will also be asked to confirm your Ring account login details. Then you will need to enter the mobile number or email address that will be used for the verification process and Ring will send you a code which you will need to enter within sixty seconds.
Providing you have entered the code correctly, you will then see a screen open up that says you have successfully set up and verified your Ring account. From here on out, you will receive a verification code every time your Ring password is requested, which means that nobody else will be able to log in to your account.
A second way to make sure that you keep your account secure is by not using the same passwords for all of your online accounts. Again, if a hacker gets into one of your accounts and you use the same password (or even a slight variant of the same password) throughout all your online accounts, they will be able to more easily hack into your Ring account.
It is even advisable to change your password every once in a while. The more intricate your password, the harder it will be to hack. Lastly, closely monitor your trusted devices in the section Authorized Client Devices in the Control Centre of your Ring device. If there are any that are outdated, be sure to remove them posthaste.
There is also an option that allows you to limit the camera’s frame of view so that it doesn’t record certain areas. Open up your Ring application on your device and then tap on Menu (depicted by the three horizontal lines in the top left hand side of your screen). Now tap on Devices and then select the desired device. Next you will tap on Device Settings and then on Privacy Settings.
The next step is to tape on Edit Privacy Zones and then you will want to tap on the (+) sign which will create a new zone. You can drag the zone with your finger and afterwards you can change the size of the zone but using the little round handles on the corner of the zone.
When you are done creating your zone, you can either name your zone or else just tap on Save. You will see that there will now be a black rectangle over the area which you want as a privacy zone. After you have saved your zone you can then go ahead and press the forward button.
Getting the Most Ring Out of Your Ring Doorbell
It’s always exciting to receive a new gadget to play with and explore. It is no different when it comes to the Ring doorbell. They come equipped with a high definition camera, two-way audio capabilities, fantastic motion detection and the best of all is the mobile access.
There are many different kinds of Ring doorbells, but all of them are great gadgets to have that will help to secure your home. And once you have got it all set up and installed, you will be able to play around with it to make sure that it works exactly as you need it to.
Then you can just sit back, relax, grab a cup of coffee and enjoy the fact that you no longer have to make a dash for the door when the doorbell rings. You can simply check your mobile device and see who is at the door without even having to move much at all.
Another added bonus is that you are able to install a Ring doorbell even though you don’t have an existing doorbell. Your Ring doorbell comes delivered with everything you need to install it right in the box.
Oh…and the best part of all? Ring doorbell allows you to open the door from your device as well! This means you won’t even need to get up once you decide whether or not to let your caller in. The app will do it for you. That’s a pretty solid win in favor of the Ring doorbell.
As always, if you’re needing any kind of help ensuring the protection of your privacy and personal data with your Ring doorbell, consider reaching out to HelpCloud Technicians for remote support.
