6. Cheapo cameras from no name manufacturers are even worse, with some having flaws so egregious that researchers recommended that users literally toss them in the garbage. Unsecured IP security cameras can provide cybercriminals not only with not only video, but usually sound and still photos as well, of your home or office. If that weren't reason enough to choose a secure camera, unencrypted transmissions could also leak your Wi Fi password or router credentials, giving an attacker complete control over your home network. An attacker could even draft your camera into a botnet, such as in the recent Mirai DDoS attacks, or spy on your social media interactions, financial dealings and private correspondences. Owning an IP camera may not be a terrible idea; AV TEST points out that burglaries in its native Germany have increased by 10 percent since last year. If you do, however, try to buy from a reputable manufacturer, and keep the firmware up to date all the time. If not, you may be trading one kind of insecurity for another. We've reached out to D Link and to Hanhwa Techwin for comment, and will update this story with replies. Best Antivirus Software and AppsTop Picks for Identity Theft Protection10 Best Mobile Password ManagersBest OverallArlo QThe Arlo Q is an excellent security camera with great video quality, strong motion and sound detection and a generous free cloud storage plan. View SiteBest ValueWyze Cam 1080pDon't be deceived: This $25 wireless security camera is very good for the price.