The news comes a few days late, as the Amazon – owned company said in September that E2E was coming by the end of 2020. Currently, Ring will be circulating content when it is uploaded to, or stored on, its cloud servers. Once activated, data and videos are encrypted at all parts of the chain, and can only be viewed by the user. Ring has also allowed users to find out how long their videos are stored online before they are deleted.
Adding end-to-end encryption to its platform hopes to dispel criticism that Ring has played fast and smooth with user safety. Over the past two years, advocacy groups and security agencies have said that the Ring app for Android was full of third-party tractors. Other high-profile hockey efforts, where malicious people gained access to doorbells, have led the company to double security. And, through 2020, the company has focused on regaining consumer trust.
It comes at a time when several internet devices of things have been exposed as less than secure, with video doorbells marked for attention. In fact, they are an essential tool for many homeowners both to welcome (and screen) visitors, as well as monitor activity on their doorsteps. Two months ago, British consumer group Which? they looked at a number of off-brand doorbells, finding them dangerously dangerous.
Ring hopes that other manufacturers will promote greater security and privacy of their users. While there are still many questions to be asked about the company ‘s closeness with some U.S. law enforcement agencies, and the impact.