From Pet Cams to Security Chaos - Are Your IoT Devices Spying on You

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Welcome to the wild world of the Internet of Things (IoT), where even your toaster might be plotting world domination—or at least mining Bitcoin. Devices like smart speakers, routers, pet cams, digital picture frames, and smart feeders are convenient, but too often they’re engineered faster than they’re secured. Ready? Let’s dig in.

Why Should You Care?

As of mid-2025, there are nearly 19 billion IoT devices in use—and attacks targeting them have surged. One in three data breaches now involves an IoT device. Yes, truly serious stuff.

What Can Be Hijacked - (Pretty Much Everything)

Your pet camera - Smart feeder - Router. 

Even innocuous gadgets like digital picture frames have been coerced into botnets. In fact, over 10 million Android-based TVs and digital frames were recently caught up in a massive botnet scandal. Some were quietly performing ad fraud or even acting as residential proxies for cybercriminals.

Security researchers have exposed flaws in smart pet feeders, including hard-coded credentials, unencrypted communication, and insecure firmware updates. And more than 40,000 security cameras were found exposed online with barely any protection—just ripe for snooping.

How Do Hackers Sneak In?

Default or factory passwords - Many devices still come with “admin123” or similar credentials. And guess what -  People forget to change them.

Unpatched firmware - Manufacturers often stop updating devices after a couple of years. If you’re still using that early smart thermostat from 2018, it’s likely vulnerable.

Insecure web dashboards - Devices with poorly designed or outdated interfaces often lack proper access controls.

Zombie gadgets - Older devices that are technically “dead” in terms of support may still be connected—and still wide open.

Real-World Sneakiness - Pet Feeder Edition

One popular smart pet feeder was found to allow attackers to intercept the built-in camera and microphone feed, alter feeding schedules, or spy on you and your furry friend—all thanks to hardcoded admin credentials. Imagine hackers knowing when you're not home or, how often Fluffy gets fed.

It’s just one example—IP cameras, routers, and smart plugs all come with their own vulnerabilities. The problem isn’t the gadget—it’s the lack of security baked into their design.

Why This Matters - (Spoiler - It's Not Just Privacy)

A hacked camera or feeder may seem like a minor nuisance, but that’s just the tip of the digital iceberg. Once inside your network, attackers can pivot to more critical systems—stealing files, spreading ransomware, or gaining access to work-from-home corporate networks.

In some extreme cases, compromised IoT devices have even been used to target infrastructure systems. Yes, your light bulb could someday help bring down the grid. How's that for an overachieving lamp?

Keep It Secure - Short Tips You Can Use Now

Change default passwords immediately - Use unique, strong credentials for every device.

Update firmware regularly - Set reminders if automatic updates aren’t available.

Use a separate Wi-Fi network - Keep your IoT gadgets isolated from personal computers and phones.

Disable features you don’t use - If you’re not using remote access, turn it off.

Buy from reputable brands - Look for companies that issue updates and support their products long-term.

Monitor your network traffic - Look out for weird upload activity or connections to unknown servers.

The IoT revolution gave us convenience on a silver platter—but also invited digital troublemakers to dinner. Your smart coffee machine, speaker, or pet cam might be more curious than you thought—and not in a good way.

Just like locking your doors at night, securing your smart home is no longer optional. Thankfully, a few simple steps can keep most of the nasties out. 

Stay safe, stay secure and take a moment this week to do an IoT checkup - Your network—and your pets—will thank you.

(AI was used to aid in the creation of this article.)

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