I’ve been asked for my opinion on Wi-Fi security cameras many times. My opinion is to avoid them. Wi-Fi is susceptible for many easy to perform attacks. For example, Wi-Fi deauthentication attacks are a favorite of script kiddies because they are so easy to perform. I’ve demonstrated how easy it is to many friends. WPA3 helps alleviate this, but most access points that I’ve seen are still using WPA2. If you buy a Wi-Fi camera that can’t use WPA3, it is vulnerable to this trivial attack.
Deauthentication attacks aren’t the only way to bring a Wi-Fi network down. Wi-Fi is a wireless protocol, which means it’s susceptible to jamming. When I explain this to friends, they often say that I’m being overly paranoid. But just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean that they’re not out to get you:
A serial burglar in Edina, Minnesota is suspected of using a Wi-Fi jammer to knock out connected security cameras before stealing and making off with the victim’s prized possessions. Minnesota doesn’t generally have a reputation as a hotbed for technology, so readers shouldn’t be surprised to hear that reports of Wi-Fi jammers used to assist burglaries in the U.S. go back several years. PSA: even criminals use technology, and more are now catching on — so homeowners should think about mitigations.
This is the exact thing I’ve been warning about since Wi-Fi cameras came on the market.
The purpose of a security camera is in the name: security. You want security cameras to be a deterrence and, failing that, to collect evidence that can be provided to law enforcers, insurance companies, etc. A Wi-Fi camera isn’t going to deter a burglar who has access to jamming hardware and knows how to use it. Wi-Fi cameras that have been disconnected from their recording device aren’t going to collect evidence (a camera with a built-in SD card could, but then you’re trusting an SD card, which is a crap shoot).
If you’re going through the trouble of buying and installing security cameras, get hard wired cameras. There are a lot of excellent Power over Ethernet (PoE) options on the market. PoE cameras only require a single Ethernet cable to provide both power and data connectivity.