Suspect Unauthorised Access to Your Canary Camera?

Suspect Unauthorised Access to Your Canary Camera? Here's What to Do

Your home security camera system is built on a foundation of trust. The thought that someone unauthorised could be accessing your Canary camera is deeply unsettling. While Canary implements robust security measures, account takeovers can happen, often due to password reuse or phishing schemes. This guide will help you identify the signs of a compromised account and take immediate steps to lock it down.

## Warning Signs of Unauthorised Access

Be alert for any unusual activity related to your Canary account. The signs can be subtle, but they are often there if you know what to look for.

• Unexpected Mode Changes: You notice your system is switched to 'Away' mode when you are at home, or it's disarmed when you know you armed it.
• Unfamiliar Videos: You see recorded video clips in your timeline that you cannot account for.
• Login Notifications: You receive an email from Canary about a new login from a device or location you don't recognise.
• Settings Have Been Altered: You find that motion sensitivity, notification settings, or camera names have been changed without your knowledge.
• Camera Movement: If you have a pan-tilt camera, it moves on its own. For fixed cameras, you might hear the two-way talk feature activate unexpectedly.
• Password Doesn't Work: Your saved password suddenly fails to log you in, and you haven't changed it.

## Immediate Steps to Secure Your Canary Account

If you suspect for any reason that your account has been compromised, you must act immediately. Time is critical.

### 1. Change Your Canary Password Immediately

This is your first and most important action.

1. Log in to your Canary account on the web or through the app.
2. Navigate to your Profile or Account Settings.
3. Find the Change Password option.
4. Create a new, strong, and unique password. Do not reuse a password you use for any other service. A good password should be long (at least 12 characters) and include a mix of upper and lower-case letters, numbers, and symbols.

### 2. Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)

This is the single most effective step you can take to prevent future unauthorised access. 2FA adds a second layer of security, requiring a temporary code from your phone in addition to your password.

1. In your Canary account settings, find the Security section.
2. Choose to enable Two-Factor Authentication.
3. Follow the on-screen prompts to link your account to an authenticator app (like Google Authenticator or Authy) or to receive codes via SMS.
4. Save your recovery codes in a safe place.

With 2FA enabled, even if someone steals your password, they will not be able to log in without physical access to your phone.

### 3. Review and End All Active Sessions

After changing your password, you need to force out anyone who might still be logged in.

1. In your account's security settings, look for an option like "Active Sessions," "Logged-in Devices," or similar.
2. You should see a list of all the places you are currently logged in.
3. Find and use the option to "Sign out of all other sessions" or "Log out everywhere." This will invalidate all logins, forcing a new password and 2FA code entry on every device.

### 4. Review Account Users and Contact Support

• Check Users: Go to your Location Settings and review the list of members who have access to your cameras. Remove anyone you do not recognise or who no longer needs access.
• Contact Canary Support: It is wise to contact Canary's official support team. Let them know you suspect a security breach. They can investigate any suspicious activity on their end and provide further guidance.

By following these steps, you can regain control of your Canary account and ensure that your private life remains private.