Did you know that many of our smart-cameras, phone cameras, webcams and CCTV cameras are actually being streamed live on the internet? Someone might be watching you right now through your own lens!
If any of your cameras are connected to the internet, it can be constantly streamed online to the general public of the internet.
source: insecam
According to The New Paper, there are multiple websites on the internet which provides these live feeds. One of the websites mentioned by TNP is called Insecam.
This site contains thousands of camera live feeding from all over the world. And Malaysia has got 27 cameras live as of press time!
On Insecam’s website, they mention that they filter all the cameras to ensure that homes and private areas are removed. Users can also file a complaint via e-mail to remove them.
However, this is very alarming news as many of those 27 live cameras show the insides of private properties. To make things worse, your cameras are tracked via GPS coordinates too! The website will locate your camera to the town you live in.
source: insecam
This obviously poses a great danger to all the people who have CCTV cameras installed in their homes as robbers and thieves can locate your estate and break in. Or perverts can watch as you go about your daily life.
The president of the Association of Information Security Professionals in Singapore, Professor Steven Wong told the press that there are websites which can scan unsecured webcams.
“The most basic thing is the most dangerous thing. Once a device is connected to the Internet, everybody can access it if you don’t set up the fence properly.”
“Somebody can write a script that automatically scans through to find webcams which are not password protected.”
source: insecam
Nick Savvides, security advocate at security and technology giant Symantec tells TNP,
“This means that a vulnerable device, such as one with a default password, could be compromised within minutes of going online. Consumers should ensure that they are purchasing these devices from a trusted and reputable manufacturer.”
So yes, ironically, the CCTV you’ve set up to secure your home may be compromised for something much more malicious.
Most of the devices detected were either unsecured or just secured with default passwords. So please go ahead and put a new and proper password on all the cameras you have connected on the internet.
source: insecam
Unfortunately, many Malaysians (and people around the world) are unaware of these type of websites and the fact that our cameras can be streamed live. If you’ve CCTV at home, please set up new passwords before having them connected to the web.
