Why CNET Doesn’t Recommend Wyze Cameras in 2024

As you check out our list of the best home security upgrades and gift ideas, you may notice a popular security brand, Wyze, is currently missing from some of our picks. Our Wyze review now comes with a disclaimer, but we wanted to give a broader explanation about why we don’t recommend Wyze products yet.

Over the past few years, Wyze has seen multiple security breaches, including databases exposed in 2022 and video files exposed in the same year. Most recently, Wyze saw breaches in September 2023 and February 2024 that allowed users to see videos from other users’ Wyze security cameras — the biggest red flags for any homeowner looking for home security.

When Wyze was contacted for comment on the September and February breaches, company representative Dave Crosby responded to the steps Wyze is taking as a result of those incidents. The company is creating 10 to 12 new engineering positions to simplify and “stress test” its code and reduce reliance on third parties, Crosby said in an email. He added that Wyze has also been undergoing “penetration” testing and making “multiple process improvements” to increase customer safety.

You can view Wyze’s current security and compliance policies here to learn about vulnerability disclosures and the types of encryption the company currently uses, including authorized two-factor authentication. It’s an encouraging response, but Wyze’s news is too late to recommend its products at this time. Next year, that could change.

CNET’s approach to home security mistakes and your privacy

Wyze is far from the only smart home brand to experience security vulnerabilities and data breaches. While real thieves trying to hack your security cameras are rare, online data theft is sadly common, which is why companies should notify customers when they discover a security flaw or evidence of a breach. Over the years, we’ve noted security issues with Eufy and data leaks with Ring, for example.

At CNET, when these issues arise we ask ourselves a few important questions:

• How does the security issue directly affect users’ privacy or personal information?
• Does the company respond quickly with strong customer communication and successfully find a solution to the problem?
• Is the security issue an isolated incident, or is it part of a pattern of security flaws that have appeared over time?
• How long has it been since the last incident? Has the company improved its security approach to avoid vulnerabilities in its consumer devices?

These questions help us make decisions about whether to recommend a product or a product. Signs of improvement, better communication and time since the last reported security flaw why companies like Eufy and Call it are currently on our list.

Unfortunately, Wyze is still struggling with these questions, especially because of how recent and common security breaches are. Wyze’s current response is better than what was released in the past, but we haven’t seen the kind of long-term, significant improvements we’d like to see before recommending the product again…yet.

These issues are not just weaknesses that are discovered and patched before problems arise, but errors that include providing users with images from homes other than their own — certainly not something a consumer wants to see from a security company. With privacy issues like these and the repeated pattern of errors, we hesitate to recommend using the company’s security cameras.

We will monitor Wyze’s situation over time and continue to ask the questions posed above to see when and how things change. When Wyze products start appearing on our list again, we’ll let you know and explain why we’re willing to recommend them again.

Don’t worry, there are still some great Wyze alternatives

Wyze has long been a leader in affordable smart home devices with excellent budget subscriptions. If that is no longer a viable option, where can you look for cheap home security products? Start with our updated list of cheap home security cameras and affordable home security systems for the best leads.

If you’re interested in getting some variety, TP-Link’s Tapo devices are a great option with Wyze-like budget prices and affordable subscriptions. Blink Mini Camera available for around $30 and can easily monitor a small room or entryway.