Can Ring Doorbells be hacked?

Can Ring Doorbells be hacked? While it’s uncommon, hackers have quite a few avenues to infiltrate your Ring device or steal your data, including weak and reused passwords, malware, phishing, and potential company-side data breaches.

This guide will walk you through everything you need to know, starting with a brief overview of these devices and what criminals can do with a hacked Ring. Then, we’ll go over their usual attack methods, several ways to stay protected, and end off with a couple of 2025 incidents mistaken for Ring hacks.

What are Ring security systems?

Ring security systems are smart home devices that help you keep your home safe. These systems include Ring Doorbells, which let you see, hear, and talk to visitors from anywhere using your smartphone.

You can add more devices like outdoor cameras and motion sensors to cover all angles of your home, and get live video and alerts in case something is amiss.

Can Ring Doorbells be hacked?

Yes, Ring Doorbells can be hacked, though it does not happen often. The device connects to your Wi-Fi, which means a weak password or outdated software can make it easier for attackers to get in. Here’s what hackers could do if they breach your system:

  • Watch and record your live or stored video feeds without your permission
  • Talk to you or people in your home using the device’s speaker
  • Steal personal information tied to your Ring account and use it for identity fraud
  • Gain access to your home Wi-Fi network
  • Send false alerts or change your device’s settings
  • Use fake footage of friends or family to get you to open the door to strangers

How can Ring Doorbells be hacked?

Below, you’ll find the most common ways your Ring doorbell can be hacked:

  • Compromised Wi-Fi network: If someone gets onto your Wi-Fi (whether it’s due to a weak password, using the KRACK exploit on WPA2-secured networks, or other methods), they can also potentially access your Ring and other devices.
  • Intercepting Ring Doorbell traffic: Rarer nowadays thanks to Wi-Fi encryption and Ring implementing end-to-end encryption (E2EE) on their devices in 2022. However, some models are still at risk due to being incompatible with E2EE.
  • Reused login credentials: If one of your accounts gets stolen, hackers may attempt to use the same email and password on your Ring account and other logins. 78 percent of people reuse passwords globally, so it’s an effective technique.
  • Malicious mobile apps or malware: Downloading sketchy files, email attachments, or third-party apps from unofficial app stores can infect your device and extract login data for Ring and other services.
  • Social engineering: Attackers may use social engineering techniques and phishing scams to get you to click on shady links that mimic the official Ring login portal, but are designed to steal your data instead.
  • Third-party integrations: If you’ve linked your Ring doorbell with Alexa, an automation platform like IFTTT, or smart hubs like Samsung SmartThings, any weakness in those connected services can lead to your Ring doorbell being hacked.
  • Potential data breaches: While we’ve listed a couple of incidents that made it seem like Ring got hacked, that’s fortunately not the case. Still, data breaches happen more often than ever, so you never know when your credentials could get leaked online.
  • Wi-Fi jamming: Attackers can disrupt your wireless signal using so-called “Wi-Fi deauthers” and other gadgets, forcing your Ring offline so live view, alerts, and uploads stop, which creates a short window for theft or tampering.

How to prevent Ring Doorbell from being hacked

The best way to keep your Ring Doorbell from being hacked is to secure your home network. Follow the steps below to close any gaps and make it harder for hackers to access your devices remotely.

Set your Ring device to a guest network

Placing your Ring on a guest Wi-Fi network separates it from your main devices, like phones, tablets, laptops, and so on. This keeps potential intruders from moving through your network if one device is compromised.

Meanwhile, your Ring Doorbell or camera can still do its job as usual. The main difference is that your smart gadgets stay on their own network, making your personal data less exposed to outside attacks.

Having a guest network is always a good idea, even if you don’t plan on isolating your Ring. While you may browse carefully and avoid sketchy sites, you never know if a friend’s device is infected and a risk to your main network.

Related: How to secure your home wireless network

Avoid weak passwords or re-using past ones

Weak or repeated passwords make your Ring an easy target for hackers. Use unique combinations of letters, numbers, and symbols for each account, and especially your Wi-Fi network. Changing passwords regularly and avoiding personal details like birthdays or pet names also makes it harder for attackers to guess your credentials.

Use a reliable password manager to help you keep track of them without repeating the same one across different logins. Many include a built-in password generator to help you create strong codes that are virtually impossible to brute force.

Enable two-factor authentication

Even the strongest passwords are vulnerable to phishing attacks or unforeseen data breaches. Setting up two-factor authentication (2FA) on your Ring account and other sensitive logins adds an extra security step if your credentials are stolen or leaked in any way.

Consider using an authenticator app to protect against SIM swapping and similar weaknesses of SMS-based 2FA. You can enable two-step verification through the Control Center, either in the Ring app or on your account Dashboard at Ring.com.

Protect your devices with a firewall and antivirus

A decent firewall blocks suspicious traffic before it reaches your devices, while an antivirus can detect harmful malware before it becomes a problem. Just remember to keep both tools updated, as new threats pop up constantly.

Install a VPN on your router

There are two main security benefits to connecting a device to a VPN (Virtual Private Network):

  • Hiding your IP address: A VPN replaces your real IP with the VPN server’s address. This makes it harder for websites, advertisers, or attackers to trace your physical location or link your activity across different sites.
  • Encrypting your traffic: VPNs also scramble data sent between your device and the internet. Even if someone intercepts the connection (e.g., with a man-in-the-middle attack), they can’t read or tamper with the information being transmitted.

Now, masking your Ring gadget’s IP doesn’t really matter, though it does come in handy for other devices connected to your network. Installing it at the router level protects every gadget automatically, without needing separate apps. This includes gaming consoles, smart TVs, and others without native VPN support.

What helps is the extra layer of encryption that prevents anyone from trying to snoop through your camera footage. While most Ring devices feature E2EE, the following models aren’t compatible with E2EE—and thus more susceptible to interception:

  • Video Doorbell (1st Gen)
  • Video Doorbell Wired
  • Stick Up Cam (1st Gen)
  • Spotlight Cam (1st Gen)

Unsure how to set up a VPN on your router? No worries. Here are some useful guides for some of the more popular vendors:

Regularly clear old Ring footage

Old Ring footage can show valuable packages, reveal your routines, private conversations, or other sensitive moments, so it’s best to clear it regularly. The less data sitting on the cloud, the less valuable it is if someone gains unauthorized access to your account.

Not only that, but your recordings won’t be floating around on the dark web or elsewhere in case of a data breach.

Keep your Ring and other devices up-to-date

Software updates frequently patch weaknesses that hackers try to exploit. Keep your Ring doorbell and router firmware current to get rid of any vulnerabilities, and don’t forget to update your operating system, the Ring app, and your phone to stay fully protected.

Consider using a wired Ring device

Unless the payoff is worth it, thieves won’t bother using Wi-Fi jammers and similar gadgets to disable your Ring doorbell. If you’re worried this might be an issue, using a wired Ring (or similar brands) takes that risk out of the equation.

Ethernet-connected setups also provide more consistent performance, so you won’t deal with weak signal or other interference. While installation might take a bit more effort, the added security and stability make it a worthwhile option for anyone serious about protecting their smart home.

Has Ring been hacked before?

The short answer is no, Ring hasn’t experienced a hacking incident or data breach as of yet. That said, there have been two particular incidents in 2025 that led people to believe their devices were being hacked:

  • Racist Ring sign-up emails: Hackers reused stolen emails from a data breach or other leak to create fake Ring accounts with offensive usernames. Even people who never owned a Ring Doorbell or other devices received these emails, leaving them understandably confused.
  • May 28th camera hack: A Ring backend update caused technical glitches that resembled hacking. Basically, users saw simultaneous logins from previously connected devices or browsers (and some they’d never seen before). This incident became viral on TikTok, and while Ring clarified this wasn’t an actual “hack”, they advised people to change their passwords as a precaution.

Can Ring Doorbells be hacked? FAQs

How do I know if my Ring has been hacked?

A hacked Ring doorbell may act strangely: settings change without your input, the camera moves or records unexpectedly, or you hear voices through the speaker. Check for unknown devices linked to your account and update passwords right away if you notice anything odd.

Are Ring Doorbells a security risk?

Ring Doorbells can pose a security risk if not properly secured. Weak passwords, reused credentials, or outdated firmware make them easier targets. Enabling 2FA, keeping software updated, and setting up a guest network help protect against unauthorized access.

Can someone else connect to my Ring Doorbell?

Someone else can connect to your Ring Doorbell if they have your login credentials or if you share device access. Always manage shared users through the app and avoid sharing your password. Two-factor authentication stops others from linking their devices to yours.

Can someone disable my Ring camera?

Hackers or intruders could disable a Ring camera by jamming Wi-Fi signals, cutting power, or gaining access through your account. Using a wired Ring device reduces the risk of your Ring camera being turned off remotely.

How often do Ring cameras get hacked?

Ring cameras don’t get hacked often, but incidents usually happen because of weak or reused passwords. Most cases are due to users’ compromised accounts, so stay on top of your account security to avoid any headaches.