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== Wyze Cloud Security Camera Breach ==


=== Incident ===
{{InfoboxCompany
On two separate occasions from September 2023 to February 2024, Wyze personal security cameras were able to be accessed by other owners due to security failures.  
| Name = Wyze
| Type = Private
| Founded = 2017
| Industry = Technology
| Official Website = https://wyze.com/
| Logo = Wyze.png
}}


In early September 2023, many Wyze security camera users reported being able to see the feeds of cameras that were not their own. A Wyze spokesperson reported this was due to a "web caching issue and is now resolved." Users throughout social media platforms such as Twitter and Reddit reported this issue and within 30 minutes, the camera view portal was shut down.<ref name=":0">https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/8/23865255/wyze-security-camera-feeds-web-view-issue</ref>
'''{{Wplink|Wyze Labs|Wyze Labs, Inc.}}''' (formerly '''Wyzecam'''), also known as '''Wyze''', is an American technology company that was incorporated on July 19, 2017. It specializes in smart home products and wireless cameras.


In late February 2024, after bringing servers back from a company outage, about 13,000<ref name=":1">https://www.reddit.com/r/wyzecam/comments/1aulfw4/i_was_watched_by_someone/</ref> users were able to view thumbnails from another users cameras with about 1,500<ref name=":1" /> being able to view the video.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkZl7FBipXA</ref><ref>https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/20/tech/wyze-breach-camera/index.html</ref>
==Security-camera breach==
===Incident===
On two separate occasions from September 2023 to February 2024, Wyze personal security cameras were able to be accessed by other owners, because of security failures.  


=== Implications ===
In early September 2023, many users of Wyze security cameras reported being able to see the feeds of cameras that were not their own. A Wyze spokesperson reported this was because of a "web caching issue and [had been] resolved". Users throughout social-media platforms such as [[Twitter]] and [[Reddit]] reported this issue, and within 30 minutes, the camera-view portal was shut down.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Peters |first=Jay |date=9 Sep 2023 |title=Your Wyze webcam might have let other owners peek into your house |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/9/8/23865255/wyze-security-camera-feeds-web-view-issue |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref>
Security cameras are a tool used by those looking for companies to make resources to protect them. These incidents show Wyze security cameras did not have the capabilities to protect their users. [https://www.theverge.com/ The Verge] reports Wyze was aware of security flaws in the WyzeCam v1 cameras for more than 4 years but discontinued the product rather than fixing the issue.<ref name=":0" /> Discontinuing the product does not help those who already own the product, and it is the nature of cloud cameras that the consumer must trust companies to deliver the proper security patches to protect their private information.
== "Bait and Switch" style behavior ==
When Wyze and Wyze v2 cameras were popularized in 2018 and prior, they were sold under the premise that 24h recording or infinitely long video clips are a subscription add-on, but short video clips would be included for free using their cloud service.


Sometime between 2020 and 2022 this video clip service became a subscription for $1.99 per camera<ref>https://forums.wyze.com/t/bait-and-switch/221810</ref>
In late February 2024, after bringing servers back from a company outage, about 13,000 users<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=@u/H3H3ather |date=19 Feb 2024 |title=I was watched by someone |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/wyzecam/comments/1aulfw4/i_was_watched_by_someone/ |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |via=Reddit}}</ref> were able to view thumbnails from another user's cameras, with about 1,500<ref name=":1" /> being able to view the video.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Rossmann |first=Louis |date=28 Feb 2024 |title=Wyze cameras let other people view her home: why cloud security is an oxymoron |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RkZl7FBipXA |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |via=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Valinsky |first=Jordan |date=20 Feb 2024 |title=About 13,000 home security customers were shown someone else’s home |url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/20/tech/wyze-breach-camera/index.html |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=CNN}}</ref>


Likely to prevent legal action, they released a "cam plus lite" package<ref>https://www.wyze.com/pages/cam-plus-lite</ref>, but enabling this feature is buried in menus and sub-menus in the online application. To date there's no way to enable it in the phone app which is the main way users access their cameras. Users can however pay monthly for the same or similar service from the phone app.
===Implications===
Security cameras are a tool used by those looking for companies to make resources to protect them. These incidents show Wyze security cameras did not have the capabilities to protect their users. ''The Verge'' reported that Wyze was aware of security flaws in the WyzeCam v1 cameras for more than 4 years, but discontinued the product rather than fixing the issue.<ref name=":0" /> Discontinuing the product did not help those who already own the product, and it is the nature of cloud cameras that the consumer must be able to trust companies to deliver proper security patches to protect their private information.


== Terms of Use ==
==Bait-and-switch behavior==
When Wyze and Wyze v2 cameras were popularized in 2018 and before, they were sold under the premise that 24-hour recording or infinitely long video clips are a subscription add-on, but that short video clips would be included for free using their cloud service. Sometime between 2020 and 2022, Wyze [[Retroactively amended purchase|changed its policy]], charging a subscription of $1.99 per camera for the video-clip service.<ref>{{Cite web |last=amarryat |date=17 Mar 2022 |title=Bait and switch |url=https://forums.wyze.com/t/bait-and-switch/221810 |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |via=Wyze Forum}}</ref>


* Wyze's terms include forced arbitration, and a waiver of class action and jury trial<ref>Wyze Terms of Use: https://www.wyze.com/policies/terms-of-service#l Section 12</ref>.
Likely in an attempt to prevent legal action, they released a "cam plus lite" package,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cam Plus Lite |url=https://www.wyze.com/pages/cam-plus-lite |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Wyze}}</ref> but enabling this feature is buried in menus and sub-menus in the website. To date, there is no way to enable this feature in the phone app, which is the primary way users access their cameras. Users can, however, use the phone app to pay monthly for the same or similar service.
* They may suspend or terminate your use of the product at any time and claim they're not responsible if this causes financial loss.
* Wyze may either stop providing software updates, or do automatic software updates without consent. The only alternative is to cease using the product.


== Citations ==
==Terms of use==
[[Category:Companies]]
*Wyze's [[terms of service]] include [[Forced Arbitration|forced arbitration]], and a waiver of [[class action]] and jury trial.<ref>{{Cite web |date=16 Dec 2024 |title=Wyze Terms of Service: Section 12 |url=https://www.wyze.com/policies/terms-of-service#l |access-date=15 Mar 2025 |website=Wyze}}</ref>
*Wyze may suspend or terminate your use of the product at any time and claim they are not responsible if this causes financial loss.
*Wyze can both stop providing software updates and do automatic software updates without consent. The only alternative is to cease using the product.
 
==References==
{{Reflist}}
[[Category:Wyze]]

Latest revision as of 07:36, 13 April 2025

Wyze
Basic information
Founded 2017
Type Private
Industry Technology
Official website https://wyze.com/


Wyze Labs, Inc. (formerly Wyzecam), also known as Wyze, is an American technology company that was incorporated on July 19, 2017. It specializes in smart home products and wireless cameras.

Security-camera breach[edit | edit source]

Incident[edit | edit source]

On two separate occasions from September 2023 to February 2024, Wyze personal security cameras were able to be accessed by other owners, because of security failures.

In early September 2023, many users of Wyze security cameras reported being able to see the feeds of cameras that were not their own. A Wyze spokesperson reported this was because of a "web caching issue and [had been] resolved". Users throughout social-media platforms such as Twitter and Reddit reported this issue, and within 30 minutes, the camera-view portal was shut down.[1]

In late February 2024, after bringing servers back from a company outage, about 13,000 users[2] were able to view thumbnails from another user's cameras, with about 1,500[2] being able to view the video.[3][4]

Implications[edit | edit source]

Security cameras are a tool used by those looking for companies to make resources to protect them. These incidents show Wyze security cameras did not have the capabilities to protect their users. The Verge reported that Wyze was aware of security flaws in the WyzeCam v1 cameras for more than 4 years, but discontinued the product rather than fixing the issue.[1] Discontinuing the product did not help those who already own the product, and it is the nature of cloud cameras that the consumer must be able to trust companies to deliver proper security patches to protect their private information.

Bait-and-switch behavior[edit | edit source]

When Wyze and Wyze v2 cameras were popularized in 2018 and before, they were sold under the premise that 24-hour recording or infinitely long video clips are a subscription add-on, but that short video clips would be included for free using their cloud service. Sometime between 2020 and 2022, Wyze changed its policy, charging a subscription of $1.99 per camera for the video-clip service.[5]

Likely in an attempt to prevent legal action, they released a "cam plus lite" package,[6] but enabling this feature is buried in menus and sub-menus in the website. To date, there is no way to enable this feature in the phone app, which is the primary way users access their cameras. Users can, however, use the phone app to pay monthly for the same or similar service.

Terms of use[edit | edit source]

  • Wyze's terms of service include forced arbitration, and a waiver of class action and jury trial.[7]
  • Wyze may suspend or terminate your use of the product at any time and claim they are not responsible if this causes financial loss.
  • Wyze can both stop providing software updates and do automatic software updates without consent. The only alternative is to cease using the product.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Peters, Jay (9 Sep 2023). "Your Wyze webcam might have let other owners peek into your house". The Verge. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 @u/H3H3ather (19 Feb 2024). "I was watched by someone". Retrieved 15 Mar 2025 – via Reddit.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  3. ↑ Rossmann, Louis (28 Feb 2024). "Wyze cameras let other people view her home: why cloud security is an oxymoron". Retrieved 15 Mar 2025 – via YouTube.
  4. ↑ Valinsky, Jordan (20 Feb 2024). "About 13,000 home security customers were shown someone else's home". CNN. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
  5. ↑ amarryat (17 Mar 2022). "Bait and switch". Retrieved 15 Mar 2025 – via Wyze Forum.
  6. ↑ "Cam Plus Lite". Wyze. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
  7. ↑ "Wyze Terms of Service: Section 12". Wyze. 16 Dec 2024. Retrieved 15 Mar 2025.
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