Smart Doorbells: Crime, Place and Cyberspace

• In Event: Communities and Place: How Environments Shape Criminal Opportunities and Prevention Strategies

Abstract

Smart or connected doorbells provide homeowners with the ability to monitor who is at or approaching their home, increasing guardianship, and/or perceptions of it. In doing so, they have the potential to prevent crime. In this paper, we do three things. First, we report the findings of a large-scale randomized controlled trial that evaluated the effect of Smart Doorbells on urban crime. Second, while connected devices might reduce traditional forms of crime at urban places, the same internet connectivity that enables them to work, might introduce new vulnerabilities associated with online spaces. Consequently, we report the findings from a series of penetration tests conducted to assess the vulnerability of a sample of smart doorbells to common attack vectors. Third, we evaluate the extent to which the doorbells tested comply with recent cybersecurity regulation introduced by the UK Government. In doing so, we explore concepts of place management, supercontrollers and crime control in a cyber-physical context.

Author

• Shane Johnson, University College London