A pet camera looks like a simple gadget: you point it at the sofa, open an app at work and see the dog. But it is also a small computer on your home network, sending video of your living space through a company's servers. The questions that matter are less about picture sharpness and more about who else can see the feed, what the camera costs once the free trial ends, and what you can do if it stops working or the maker has a problem.
No agency publishes guidance written only for pet cameras. This guide builds on what the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says about home cameras and warranties, plus security advice from the US cybersecurity agency CISA. It names no models and makes no picks. The aim is that you can judge any camera yourself, in the store or with a cart open on your phone.
How it works
Most pet cameras do the same basic job. A lens and microphone capture video, the camera joins your Wi-Fi, and the footage travels over the internet so an app on your phone can show it live. Many also save clips, and that archive usually sits on the maker's servers (the "cloud") rather than in your house.
That chain is where the risk lives. The FTC says cameras that stream live video, including ones used to watch pets, can be hacked (FTC). CISA warns that companies store personal information in databases that may be vulnerable or accidentally exposed, and that the security of a connected device is not guaranteed (CISA). A UK security advisory relayed by CISA adds that attackers can reach poorly secured cameras to get live feeds or images (CISA).
So there are three places a problem can start: the camera itself, your home network, and the maker's account system. A good purchase decision looks at all three.
What matters
Start with security features, because you cannot add them later. The FTC advises choosing a camera with built-in protection, such as encryption of your account information, the livestream and archived video. If the box and product page do not say, the FTC suggests checking the maker's website or label, or contacting the company to ask which encryption it uses (FTC).
Then look for these, each taken from the FTC's advice:
- Two-factor authentication on the cloud account, where it is offered. CISA also recommends multi-factor sign-in, which it says can significantly reduce the damage if a password leaks (CISA).
- A way to turn off remote viewing, in case you ever want the camera to work only at home.
- Permission levels for shared viewing, if a partner, sitter or relative will watch too. The FTC notes not every camera has them.
- A web login page that starts with https. Otherwise, the FTC says, your credentials are not encrypted.
Also ask about updates. The FTC says camera software needs updates to fix security bugs, and the viewing app should stay current as well. CISA says firmware updates fix flaws and address vulnerabilities (CISA). A camera whose maker has stopped issuing updates keeps its old bugs, so the maker's support page is the place to look for how long updates continue.
After you buy, the basics are to replace any default password with a strong, unique one and to install updates promptly. The FTC and CISA both say default passwords are easy to find online.
What matters less: marketing about resolution and field of view, treat-tossing add-ons and cute app features. They may be nice, but none of them protects the footage.
What it costs
The shelf price is only the first payment. Many cameras limit saved video, alerts or history unless you pay a recurring plan, and that plan can outlast the free trial by years. Do the arithmetic before you buy: write down the camera price, then add the plan fee for each year you expect to keep the camera in use, up to five. Multiply it out for every camera you plan to install.
The number on the box will not tell you the rest, so read the maker's own plan terms and its warranty page. Look for these:
- Auto-renewal. Does the plan renew on its own, at what price, and how do you cancel?
- Price changes after the trial. What does the plan cost once the introductory period ends, and can the maker change it later?
- Saved clips. What happens to your stored video if the plan lapses: is it deleted, locked or kept for a time, and can you download it first?
- Which features need the plan. Is live viewing free while clip history is paid, or is more locked?
- Whether more than one camera needs more than one plan.
There are quieter costs too. Security takes a little of your time: the FTC suggests securing your home router, including WPA3 or WPA2 wireless encryption, and putting cameras on a separate network from computers and printers (FTC). Finally, a camera that stops getting updates may need replacing sooner than the hardware wears out, which is worth weighing when two models are close in price.
What protects you
Three things protect you as a buyer: the warranty, the return policy and the recall record. Check all three before you pay, ideally while you are standing at the shelf.
The warranty. The Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is the federal law governing warranties on consumer products, according to the FTC's guide for businesses (FTC). It covers written warranties. It does not force a seller to offer one, but FTC rules apply when one exists, including that it must be available before you buy. So ask to read the warranty text in the store, or open the maker's warranty page on your phone, and note what it excludes.
The law also recognizes an implied warranty of merchantability, a promise that goods will do what they are supposed to do. Implied warranties do not cover abuse, misuse, ordinary wear, ignoring directions or poor maintenance. A seller that gives a written warranty or sells a service contract cannot disclaim implied warranties. "As is" sales need a clear, conspicuous disclaimer, usually in writing, and some states do not allow them. Even then, product liability for personal injury from a defect remains. State limits for warranty claims are generally four years from purchase.
Repair or replace. Camera makers differ in what they promise, so read the warranty page for the remedy. Does it say the maker will repair the unit, replace it, or refund you? Does it publish terms for fixing or replacing a battery, if the camera has one, and is there a cost? If the maker publishes nothing on repair, treat the camera as one you replace rather than fix, and add that to your cost estimate. The manufacturer's own warranty page is the primary source here.
The return policy. A return policy is the store's promise, separate from the maker's warranty, so get it in writing before you pay. Read it for the number of days you have, whether the clock starts at purchase or delivery, whether opened electronics can come back, who pays return shipping, and whether a restocking fee applies. Check whether the camera is sold "as is", since that label changes what you can claim. The FTC's consumer advice site, consumer.ftc.gov, is the place to look for the agency's guidance on return policies and your rights.
Recalls. Before buying, and again after setup, search the Consumer Product Safety Commission's recall list at cpsc.gov/recalls using the maker's name and the exact model name or number. Search the maker's name alone as well, since a recall may list a product line. A recall notice describes the hazard and the remedy, so if your model appears, stop and follow the maker's instructions. If you find none, you have a clean check on that date; repeat it every so often, because recalls come after sale.
CISA adds a last safeguard: if a device does not need constant internet access, it suggests disconnecting it.
What to ask
Take these to the seller, or send them to the maker's support team before you pay:
- Which parts are encrypted: account details, the live stream, saved video?
- Does the account support two-factor sign-in?
- How long will the maker issue security updates, and how are they installed?
- Can I turn off remote viewing, and can I set different permission levels for other viewers?
- Which features need a paid plan, and what happens to my camera and saved clips if I stop paying?
- Does the plan renew automatically, and what will it cost after the trial?
- Where can I read the written warranty today, and does it repair or replace a failed unit?
- What is the return policy, in writing, and is the camera sold "as is"?
Before you buy checklist
Quick answers
Can a pet camera really be hacked?
Yes. The FTC says cameras that stream live video, including those used to watch pets, can be hacked. It advises unique passwords, two-factor authentication and built-in encryption.
Does a warranty cover a camera that stops working?
It depends on the warranty terms. A written warranty sets what the maker covers, and the implied warranty of merchantability promises goods do what they should, but it excludes misuse and ordinary wear, and state limits are generally four years from purchase.
Should I leave the factory password in place?
No. Both the FTC and CISA say default passwords are easy to find online and give no real protection.
