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Ask HN: Are there Wi-Fi baby monitors with decent security?

7 points by jgable ↗ HN
I’ve so far refused to get a Wi-Fi baby monitor because of all the horror stories I’ve heard of horrendous security practices. However, our current baby monitor just doesn’t have the range we need when we are outside or in the garage, or at my in-laws’ larger house.

Are there any brands of Wi-Fi baby monitors that I can trust to have acceptable security practices? Yes, it need to be video. I’d prefer an actual baby monitor camera and not a large ugly security camera.

7 comments

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verdverm
What about a DIY home security setup?

My buddy does this for other reasons, but it occurred to me that maybe searching for a different product that can also do what you want might reveal more results

Msurrow
I know this is not actually the question you ask, but.. not the range? Have you looked at the NeoNate 6500D? It has a range of 800m (thats 2650ft in freedom units). I know you have big houses in the US but..

Edit: Didnt see the video part, sorry. I wont have any of the online models in my house

Edit2: Seems like Neonate has a video model with 300m range (approx 950ft). Dont known if thats enough. Anyway I can vouch for the brand, super babymonitors. Think its the most commonly used in Denmark

jgable
Thanks, I’ll check them out
londons_explore
I wouldn't trust any device like this to have robust security.

I think your only option is to find a model that can work without a connection to the internet, and then firewall it off from the outside world. Then nobody can access it to use those exploits and backdoors for evil.

darkest_ruby
If you are concerned about privacy, best thing is to have webcam broadcasting in your local area network,to which you then VPN.

Given it's a baby monitor, you are likely to be on the same network, so VPN is not even needed most of the time.

Just restrict your webcam to access wider internet

notemaker
Worst case you could set up a router that denies all traffic by default, then work your way up to least privilege, and tunnel into the network with wireguard.
ianpurton
In my experience you don't need a dedicated monitor an old android phone and a baby monitoring app will work fine (Search for Dormi)

Android phones are relatively hard to hack remotely and the comms will be over TLS.