Beware of cheap security cameras: Safe or hidden danger?

Beneath the attractive price tag, many cheap security cameras can offer more trouble than peace of mind. From blurry images to recording lag, not all are good enough to truly protect your home. Some even pose a risk of leaking personal data, making the security device itself an open door for hackers.

With burglaries on the rise, the need for home monitoring has never been higher. According to Safe Home, in 2023 alone, Americans reported an estimated 119 million package thefts.

This explains the rise of the security camera market, which could reach more than $60 billion by the end of the decade, according to a report from the Consumer Affairs platform.

However, amid the wave of surveillance equipment purchases, many people, in order to save money, have chosen cheap camera models while ignoring important factors such as data encryption, software support or clear origin. And that can cost you dearly, not only in money, but also in your own privacy and safety.

Weaknesses of cheap security cameras

One of the key factors that determines the effectiveness of a security camera is image quality, specifically resolution, frame rate (FPS) and video processing capabilities. However, in the low-cost segment, these factors are often cut heavily to save production costs, resulting in an ineffective surveillance experience.

Many low-cost security camera models only support resolutions below 1,080 pixels, or even 720 pixels, which is not enough to record clear details, especially in low light conditions or when the subject is moving.

While promotional images may make users believe they are getting a state-of-the-art device, the reality can be quite the opposite, with blurry, pixelated images that make it difficult to recognize faces or license plates.

Not only low resolution, but low frame rate (e.g. 15 FPS instead of standard 30 FPS) and too strong video compression also greatly affect the recording quality.

While these save bandwidth and reduce storage space, they make footage choppy, lack smoothness, and lose important details, especially when an incident needs to be investigated.

Of course, there are still some “affordable” devices that offer good value, but they are few and far between. With most low-cost security camera models, users are trading peace of mind for a seemingly attractive price, but with many potential drawbacks.

Potential risk of data being hacked and footage being leaked from cheap security cameras

When installing security cameras, everyone expects this device to increase the safety of the house. However, in some cases, the devices used to protect accidentally become weak points, making users more vulnerable than ever to hackers.

Cheap Wi-Fi security cameras often require users to create an account via an app to connect and control remotely. These apps store personal information, including name, address, living habits and even camera location. If the system is not well encrypted or uses a lax security infrastructure, all this data can become “easy prey” for cyberattacks.

In fact, in 2024, the famous American security firm ADT faced a serious data breach when hackers accessed the database containing customer contact information.

Worse, not only is data stolen, but in some cases, images and videos from users' cameras are also accessed without authorization. A notable example is the Eufy security camera incident, where users were accidentally able to view cameras in other people's homes due to a system error.

Such vulnerabilities are especially dangerous if the camera is placed in a bedroom, living room or private space. While the low price may be attractive, the sacrifice of privacy and personal safety is clearly not worth paying.