Why CNET Won’t Recommend Wyze Cameras in 2024
As you search through our best lists for home security upgrades and gift ideas, you may notice that a popular security brand, Wyze, is not currently among our picks. Our Wyze reviews now include a disclaimer, but we wanted to provide a more thorough explanation of why we don’t currently recommend Wyze products.
In recent years, Wyze has seen repeated security breaches, including exposed databases in 2022 and exposed video files that same year. More recently, Wyze saw breaches September 2023 And February 2024 which allows users to see video footage from other users’ Wyze security cameras – the reddest flag for any homeowner looking for home security.
When we reached out to Wyze for comment on the September and February breaches, company representative Dave Crosby responded with the steps Wyze is taking in light of these events. The company is creating 10 to 12 new technical features to simplify and “stress test” its code and reduce reliance on third parties, Crosby said in an email. He added that Wyze has also undergone “penetration testing” and made “multiple process improvements” to increase customer safety.
That’s possible View Wyze’s current security and compliance rules here to learn more about vulnerability disclosures and the types of encryption the company now uses, including mandatory two-factor authentication. It’s an encouraging answer, but Wyze’s problems are too recent to recommend our products at this time. That could change in the coming year.
CNET’s approach to home security shortcomings and your privacy
A security company must have a good track record if you want to trust it with your personal information.
Wyze is far from the only smart home brand that has suffered security issues and data breaches. While actual thieves trying to hack into your security cameras are rare to non-existent, online data theft is unfortunately common. Therefore, companies must notify customers when they discover a security flaw or evidence of a breach. For example, in recent years we have identified security issues with Eufy and data breaches with Ring.
When these issues arise, we at CNET ask ourselves some important questions:
- How does the security issue directly impact users’ privacy or personal information?
- Does the company respond immediately with strong customer communications and effectively resolve the issue?
- Is the security problem an isolated incident, or is it part of a pattern of security flaws that have occurred over time?
- How long has it been since the last incident? Has the company improved its security approach to prevent vulnerabilities in their consumer devices?
These questions help us decide whether we should recommend a brand or product. Signs of improvement, better communication, and time since the last reported security flaw are why companies like Eufy and Ring are currently on our lists.
Unfortunately, Wyze is still grappling with these questions, especially due to its recent and frequent security breaches. Wyze’s current response is better than those in the past, but we haven’t seen the kind of significant long-term improvement we’d like to see before recommending the brand again… not quite yet.
These issues are not simply vulnerabilities that were discovered and fixed before problems could arise, but flaws that included giving users images of homes other than their own – certainly not something a buyer wants to see from a security company. With these types of privacy issues and a repeated pattern of errors, we hesitate to suggest the use of the company’s security cameras.
We’ll monitor Wyze’s situation over time and continue to ask the questions above to see when and how things change. If Wyze products appear on our lists again, we’ll let you know and explain why we want to recommend them again.
Don’t worry, there are still great Wyze alternatives
Wyze has long been a leader in extremely affordable smart home devices with great budget plans. If they are no longer a viable option, where can you look for cheap home security products? Start with our updated lists of cheap home security cameras and the most affordable home security systems for the best leads.
If you’re interested in finding a particular brand, TP-Link’s Tapo devices are an excellent alternative with budget prices on par with Wyze and affordable plans too. The Blink Mini Cam is also regularly available for $30 and can easily monitor a small room or interior entrance.
