A Guide to Securing Your 2N Intercom Against Unauthorised Access
2N IP intercoms are powerful devices that act as a gateway to your home or business. Because they are network-connected, it is essential to take proactive steps to secure them against unauthorised access. Failing to do so could potentially allow unauthorised individuals to view your camera, operate your door, or gain access to your internal network.
This guide provides essential, actionable steps to harden the security of your 2N intercom, ensuring that only authorised users have access.
## Signs of Potential Unauthorised Access
Be aware of the warning signs that your device may be compromised or under attack.
- Settings Have Changed Unexpectedly: You notice that user accounts, network settings, or call destinations have been altered without your knowledge.
- Unknown User Accounts: You see user accounts in the configuration that you did not create.
- High Number of Failed Logins: The event log shows repeated failed login attempts from unknown IP addresses, indicating a possible brute-force attack.
- Device is Behaving Erratically: The intercom is rebooting unexpectedly or is not functioning as it should.
- Unusual Network Traffic: You notice a high volume of data coming from the intercom's IP address on your network.
## Essential Security Hardening Steps
Follow these steps to dramatically improve the security posture of your 2N intercom.
### 1. Change the Default Administrator Password
This is the most important security measure you can take. The default username and password for 2N devices (e.g., admin/2n) are publicly known. Leaving them unchanged is like leaving your front door wide open.
- Log in to the 2N web administration interface.
- Navigate to "System -> Users."
- Select the default administrator account (usually "admin").
- Set a strong, unique password. A strong password should be long (at least 12 characters) and contain a mix of uppercase letters, lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols.
- Save the changes.
### 2. Create and Manage User Accounts Wisely
Instead of giving everyone the administrator password, create separate user accounts with limited privileges.
- In the "System -> Users" section, create new user accounts for day-to-day access.
- Assign these users to "Basic" or "Privileged" access groups rather than the "Administrator" group. This principle of least privilege ensures that users only have access to the functions they absolutely need.
- Regularly review and delete any user accounts that are no longer needed.
### 3. Keep Your Firmware Up to Date
Firmware updates are not just for new features; they contain critical security patches that fix vulnerabilities discovered by 2N's security team.
- Navigate to "System -> Maintenance."
- Check your current firmware version.
- Visit the official 2N website, find the support section for your model, and download the latest firmware if yours is out of date.
- Use the "Upload Firmware" function to update your device.
### 4. Enable HTTPS for Encrypted Communication
By default, access to the web interface is often over HTTP, which is unencrypted. This means your password is sent over the network in plain text.
- Go to "Services -> HTTP."
- Find the option for "Connection Security" or "HTTPS."
- Enable it and select "HTTPS" or "Both." This will encrypt the login session, protecting your credentials from being intercepted.
### 5. Regularly Review Access Logs
The intercom keeps a detailed log of all activity. Make a habit of checking it.
- Go to "Status -> History."
- Filter the logs to look for events like "User Login Failed" and "User Login."
- Look for suspicious patterns, such as many rapid failed attempts from a single IP address, which could indicate an attack.
By implementing these fundamental security practices, you can significantly reduce the risk of unauthorised access and ensure your 2N intercom remains a secure and reliable part of your property's security system.