Hackers yell, curse at family after accessing security camera account, couple says

AUBURN, Wash. (KCPQ) -- A local family says someone hacked their security-camera account and watched them for weeks inside their home, even yelling and cursing at their children.

They only moved in three months ago, but Abby Laguidao and Conrado Casallo say they're uncomfortable inside their Auburn home. The family installed security cameras, which are connected to the internet and, they say that's when they started hearing things.

“Last week, like 4 a.m., a huge sound woke us up. I hear talking on this side and the moment I turned the light on the sound stopped,” says Conrado.

Conrado says he unplugged the security camera in the living room.

“But then when I went back to bed. I could still hear it in the doorbell, but I was just too lazy. I thought maybe it's an interference of signal,” says Conrado.

The couple says things got really creepy this week, while Abby and the children sat here in the living room. She says could hear multiple male voices. At first, she thought it was Conrado just checking in via the security cameras.

“And then they started cussing and I was like that's not Conrado. And they go nice laptop and I go OK someone is looking at me,” says Abby.

Abby wanted proof.

“I grabbed a chair and I was doing this, but my face was back here and my hand was right here because I didn't want to look at them. They were like 'Stop recording us! What the eff are you doing?' And so that's when I stopped the video because I was shaking,” says Abby.

After unplugging the cameras again, Abby and Conrado called Auburn Police, who confirm they are investigating.

Cornado says he also discovered Abby's login account had been hacked.

Cyber security experts at WatchGuard Technologies say if you have security cameras with internet access, always use a strong password and protect it with a firewall or secure router. Also, limit web access to the cameras whenever possible.

As for Abby and Conrado's house, they're keeping the cameras on the outside for now.

Abby and Conrado say in addition to filing a police report, they also filed a complaint with Nest, the company who made the cameras.