Secure your webcams

[Dave W]

This is disconcerting.

Terrifying IoT Search Engine Lets You Spy On Strangers' Webcams

[Granny Gremlin]

Sounds like security cam voyeur porn is gonna be huge this year.

[Pilgrim]

As always, there are many people who will use technology without learning anything about it other than where to find the ON switch.

The simplest example is people who buy cars and never read the owner's manual.

[Granny Gremlin]

You read the manual, as in front to back? 



Peruse or scan certain relevant sections and reference them later, sure, but an actual read.  Damn.

[Pilgrim]

You read the manual, as in front to back? 



Peruse or scan certain relevant sections and reference them later, sure, but an actual read.  Damn.

I can't say I read every word, but I do page through front to back.

Why would I spend $10,000 or more for any device and not read the owner's manual??

[Rob]

This is disconcerting.

Terrifying IoT Search Engine Lets You Spy On Strangers' Webcams

Wait until they turn off the heat or your new refrigerator because "it's the internet of things".

[Pilgrim]

Wait until they turn off the heat or your new refrigerator because "it's the internet of things".

You're right on target. It's going to be up to everyone to learn what security means, or take the consequences.

[chromium]

The concerns even go beyond your household walls.

I got a kick out of this Jeep exploit...   

[Dave W]

It's bad enough that smart TVs, refrigerators, etc. can be hacked via malware, but even if they're not, the manufacturers are collecting data from them.

Strangers being able to look into webcams and even control them takes things to a whole new level. The ability to record locations, possibly control traffic lights and heart monitors... the mind boggles.

You don't have to read the manual front to back but you do need to understand that your device can be commandeered if you don't secure it. It's obvious from the article that too few people know this.

[Alanko]

A few of us in college were into this. People had non-password protected CCTV cameras in homes and businesses, and by doing wildcard searches in Google for probable bits of the IP address of the cameras you could usually find some quite easily. Some even had controls, so you could pan the camera around.

The webcam in my laptop doesn't have a driver installed, but I do tend to stick something over the lens. I'm tempted to give it a coat of black spray paint now!

[westen44]

A few of us in college were into this. People had non-password protected CCTV cameras in homes and businesses, and by doing wildcard searches in Google for probable bits of the IP address of the cameras you could usually find some quite easily. Some even had controls, so you could pan the camera around.

The webcam in my laptop doesn't have a driver installed, but I do tend to stick something over the lens. I'm tempted to give it a coat of black spray paint now!

I've had something over my lens for a very long time now, but darkening it may not be a bad idea. 

[gearHed289]

I've never even used a web cam. I like the covering it with tape idea.

A while back I heard something about smart TVs using face recognition to figure out what commercials to show. Evil!

[Pilgrim]

I have cameras in 30+ distance education classrooms, three webcams in my office, and of course every laptop and tablet I use has one. 

The cameras in classrooms all have passwords, but we have 25 students a term working for us and all know the passwords so they can monitor the cameras and steer them to keep faculty in the shot while they're teaching.  It would be easy for any of these students to connect to the webcams from any computer on campus.  But who wants to stare into a classroom?

A note after some quick Googling....

Webcams on your computer aren't as vulnerable as you may think. Most security issues apply only to IP cameras. Those cameras have an embedded web server and stream the video to the Internet automatically. Passwords like the ones we use on classroom cameras are to restrict the access to this stream.

Logitech cameras (the ones I use for personal service) are purely local devices. So the only way for a hacker to get the webcam stream is to completely compromise your computer, in which case you would have *more important* problems. As long as your WiFi/Network is secure, the camera is secure.

Since only foolish people run wireless or wired networks without passwords, and I know none of the honored (and even slightly dis-honored) folks here are that foolish, I assume that we're not really that exposed to webcam intrusion.

[Highlander]

Largest single CCTV system (same building group) I've played with had over circa 1000 cameras linked to circa 60 DVR's, all networked to one control room...
Some buddies of mine work on far bigger systems...
The key bit is "port access" to your webcam and turning off its functionality within your system ops, if that's what you wish, but it's a big (or little) city issue... use non-standard ports, and it will shut-out most the oiks that try and hack-in...
It's all gadget driven, with people wanting access to their homes/work-place with their "apps" ( ) on their "dumb" - phones ... you want it, you got it ... or ... you reap what you sow ...
Keeps me employed, mind you...

[Pilgrim]

Largest single CCTV system (same building group) I've played with had over circa 1000 cameras linked to circa 60 DVR's, all networked to one control room...
Some buddies of mine work on far bigger systems...
The key bit is "port access" to your webcam and turning off its functionality within your system ops, if that's what you wish, but it's a big (or little) city issue... use non-standard ports, and it will shut-out most the oiks that try and hack-in...
It's all gadget driven, with people wanting access to their homes/work-place with their "apps" ( ) on their "dumb" - phones ... you want it, you got it ... or ... you reap what you sow ...
Keeps me employed, mind you...

Look at it this way: you have incredible job security!!