From protection to hacking and blackmail… Dubai Police warns against neglecting to secure cameras and devices connected to the Internet inside the home

Dubai Police has warned of increasing risks threatening the privacy of individuals inside their homes, as a result of negligence in securing monitoring systems and smart devices connected to the Internet, which may turn from a means of protection into a tool for hacking, espionage, and electronic blackmail.

The General Department of Criminal Investigations and Investigations, represented by the Department of Electronic and Cybercrimes, confirmed that many users rely on the default settings of devices, which makes it easier for hackers to access them through simple technical means, allowing them to monitor victims without their knowledge, and exploit this to threaten or blackmail them.

She explained that the significant expansion in the use of home cameras and smart devices is being matched by an increase in electronic targeting attempts, especially for unsecured devices, noting that digital awareness is no longer an option, but rather a necessity to protect private life.

Dubai Police stressed that the danger does not lie in the use of these technologies, but in the way of dealing with them, calling for adherence to basic procedures, the most important of which is changing the default passwords immediately after turning on the devices, and using strong and complex passwords, in addition to updating the systems periodically to fill security gaps.

It also warned against sharing personal data or passwords with any untrusted party, or interacting with unknown links that may contain malware, pointing out that many hacking cases begin with a simple user error.

She called for turning off cameras when they are not needed, especially inside homes, to reduce the chances of unauthorized access, stressing that simple preventive measures may prevent major damage.

In this context, Dubai Police directed the public to take advantage of the e-Crime Hub platform for awareness, and to report any hacking or blackmail attempts through the eCrime platform or official channels, or to call (901) for non-emergency cases.

She stressed that community cooperation and individual awareness represent the first line of defense in confronting cybercrimes, and protecting individuals from having their privacy violated within the safest places… their homes.