The world is full of devices that are supposed to make our lives easier. However, things don't always go to plan like we want them to, as this one mother from Tennessee learned.
After purchasing a Ring camera, she thought she would be able to keep a better eye over her 3 little girls. However, she actually discovered that someone had hacked into their system and was taunting her children.
Keep scrolling to find out what happened, and view the chilling video of the ordeal.
What are Ring cameras?
via: Google Play
Ring is a company that has developed an app that allows you to watch your home from mobile devices including a cellphone or a laptop.It does this by connecting to your Wi-Fi.
via: Ring
It keeps you in the loop via notifications and also sends you instant alerts when people press your doorbell or trigger any motion sensors.It seems like a handy app to have, doesn't it?
via: Ring
Everyone who invests in it has their reasons for doing so, and these parents were no different.Nurse Ashley LeMay discovered that things weren't right with her Ring.
via: Getty Images
4 days after purchasing a Ring system in the Black Friday sales, someone had already hacked into the system.She had originally bought it to keep an eye on her 3 girls...
via: Ring
Being a nurse, Ashley sometimes has overnight shifts. One of her daughters also has some health issues that mean she has to keep a careful eye on her, so she thought this camera would make it easier to do so.But within 4 days, things have taken a dark twist.
via: Twitter
An unknown male had manipulated the camera and the sound system so that they could communicate with the girls in the room.They were pretending to be Santa Claus.
via: Twitter
The chilling footage, which you can find further down, showed how the man was speaking to the 8-year-old girl. He said: "I'm Santa Claus. Don't you want to be my best friend?"The little girl was very confused and that quickly turned to terror.
@Jessica_Holley This is why you have an offline network for cams and don’t use services that put your cameras online :)— jojo (@jojo)1576081764.0
This is what Ashley had to say about the situation:
@Jessica_Holley What gives me chills is the amount of "people" that are more upset about the camera in the kid's ro… https://t.co/ORw13wOzP3— the.mr.antonio.📟 (@the.mr.antonio.📟)1576042241.0
The creep also played music through the sound system...
"First, what happened I was in the hallway I thought it was my sister because I hear music," the child had recalled. "It's like ‘tiptoe through the window'."And things only got worse...
@Jessica_Holley @TacosNSlurpees I’ve had my camera hacked before and someone talking to me and watching me. In my own home.— Chastin Akers (@Chastin Akers)1576077539.0
That's when the instilling voice piped up...
via: Twitter
"I'm your best friend... I'm Santa Claus."Of course, her mother was distraught over the frightening ordeal.
via: Twitter
"I watched the video and I mean my heart just like... I didn't even get to the end where she is screaming 'mommy, mommy' before I like ran inside.""They could have watched them sleeping, changing."
@KeithPlaysPC @Jessica_Holley The point was to spread awareness that strangers can access it *at any time*. If she… https://t.co/3iZthenaU3— Ross is trans™ (@Ross is trans™)1576202071.0
An investigation into the hacker's identity has started.
via: Getty Images
Police are currently on their way to finding out who this unknown male voice belongs to. News about the situation reached Ring and a spokesperson for the company released a statement.They confirmed it was "in no way related to a breach or compromise of Ring's security."
via: Ring
The parents were urged to carry out a two-factor authentification method in order to increase the security of the product. However, they hadn't done so.The spokesperson said this:
@Jessica_Holley @Chennylou This is the second story I’ve read about this morning about this. Is Ring goin to do ANYTHING about this????— re:bekah. (@re:bekah.)1576166075.0
They continued:
@midtennkevin @Jessica_Holley Not so common sense actually. Today's parents don't have much option for baby/child m… https://t.co/lWJk7GNY74— E.M. (@E.M.)1576024308.0
Here's a look at the chilling video:
Each time I've watched this video it's given me chills. A Desoto County mother shared this Ring video with me. Fo… https://t.co/5ceTTK2ck7— Jessica Holley (@Jessica Holley)1576011391.0