Australians filmed through private security cameras being streamed on Russian website

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Australians filmed through private security cameras that are being streamed on a Russian website 

BY BRINKWIRE ON JUNE 24, 2020

A Russian website is live-streaming footage of Australians in their homes and businesses using vision from hacked security cameras.

The Insecam website broadcasts security cameras and webcams connected to the internet with more than 16,000 camera feeds from around the world – 126 of those coming from Australia. 

Backyard swimming pools in Perth, industrial warehouses in Hobart and Sydney, and Melbourne’s coastline are among the dozens of places people can see via the site.

The website also allows people to control the cameras by zooming in and out and moving them around. 

The live feeds show everything from traffic and parks to people’s homes, backyards, driveways and businesses, and anyone with the Internet can access them. 

Insecam describes itself as ‘the world (sic) biggest directory of online surveillance security cameras’.

A simple search on the website brings up more than 40 live feeds of various security cameras from homes and businesses in Melbourne and Sydney.

The website even provides the latitude and longitude coordinates for the cameras, which were compromised after they were connected to the internet.

Professor Katina Michael from the Australian Privacy Foundation told the ABC the cameras could be used for break-ins and robberies. 

The cameras allow people to know when someone is home, what property and assets they own, who visits and what times they sleep, Prof Michael said. 

Prof Michael said even baby monitors could be hacked, and websites like Insecam could help hackers control cameras.

‘If you can remotely control your device and zoom in, zoom out … remotely unlock your door, so can a hacker,’ she said. 

Insecam allows anyone to watch properties and businesses, meaning they know whether residents are home or not. 

When asked about hacking the devices, the group behind the website denied it and insisted the owners of the cameras did not have sufficient security. 

Cyber security and privacy experts said the owners of the cameras have been opened up to the possibility of physical and internet attacks.

Ty Miller said almost anyone could gain access to countless vulnerable cameras on the internet.

‘You can use the same Google hacking techniques to actually find your passwords online by simply using your web browser,’ he said. 

With more devices connecting to the internet hackers have the ability to ‘find vulnerabilities’ and get into the networks.

This means they could even get into televisions, laptops and anything in the home connected to the internet.

Mr Miller said once a hacker gets into the ‘internal network or accounts’, they can gather as much information as possible and use it to perform identity theft and cause financial and emotional damage. 

Despite the invasion of privacy, Insecam claims only people who haven’t changed the password to their security camera will have their footage streamed on their site.

‘Only filtered cameras are available now. This way none of the cameras on Insecam invade anybody’s private life’, the website says. 

Cyber experts are warning Australians to change the default password for their devices to avoid being streamed on the website. 

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Insecam and the Australian Cyber Security Centre for comment. 

Source: “Australians filmed through private security cameras that are being streamed on a Russian website “, BrinkWire, https://en.brinkwire.com/news/australians-filmed-through-private-security-cameras-that-are-being-streamed-on-a-russian-website/

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