September 21st 2014
An imvestigation by the Mail on Sunday has revealed that homes and businesses across Britain are at risk of being victims of spying via security cameras they have purchased for their safety. The issue highlights the need for owners to change the default password that is supplied wtih the devices, as well as that supplied with Wi-Fi routers and home hubs.
Certain brands of domestic security cameras, baby monitors and cameras in widespread in shops and offices of the type which are connected to your Wi-Fi and can be viewed on your computer or mobile device, have been hacked into by criminals guessing their owners' login details, and the footage streamed on a freely-available website.
The hackers – and visitors to the website – can see exactly what is being monitored by the camera, which could include your private life, confidential business transactions and information and your children. With some of the cameras concerned, the owner's name and address is also displayed on the screen. And fitted in certain positions, what you are doing on your computer or mobile device including banking, shopping, social networking and online dating, is clearly visible.
Get Safe Online CEO Tony Neate said: ‘The most important thing to take away from this is how important it is to change the default password on the device. Camera instruction manuals should explain how to do this, and if not, then you should contact the manufacturer for guidance.’
A spokesperson from the National Crime Agency (NCA) said: ‘It is vital that individuals and businesses take all possible steps to protect themselves from having personal or financial information compromised, making sure operating instructions are followed, security software is up to date, and passwords are strong and regularly changed.’
Liberal Democrat MP and member of Parliament's Home Affairs Committee Julian Huppert, also commented to the Mail on Sunday, saying that manufacturers must do more to protect customers. He said: "It’s absolutely shocking. We should get the companies which sell this to force customers to change default passcodes. This should be a wake-up call to anyone who has a camera in their home or business"
In August 2013 we reported on the owners of a Foscam camera being used as an infant monitor in Texas being spied on after it had been hacked into.
