Hackers Create Website With Illegal Streams From 73,000 Private IP Cameras

[Reasonable Doubt]

While many people install home IP surveillance cameras to feel safe, a creepy new site has surfaced to exploit those who have yet to change the default password. Known as Insecam, the site tracks tens of thousands of IP cams without custom passwords and serves them up so anyone can watch the feed. While the site claims it is simply bringing awareness to those with default passwords, allowing the entire internet to watch someone in their living room without them knowing it probably isn’t the way to do it.

The site has seemingly hacked into 73,000 cameras from all over the world including parking lots and exterior locations as well as inside people’s homes. It seems to be able to tap into a wide range of models from various manufacturers. There are more than 11,000 cameras in the US available for streaming on the site right now. It appears the group has some kind of automated process that adds thousands of IP cameras everyday.
The unknown owners of the site, which is registered with GoDaddy and linked to an address in Moscow, claim it has been “designed in order to show the importance of the security settings.” The group also says in order to remove your camera from the list, “the only thing you need to do is to change your camera password."

Regardless of the potential motives to make such a service available, it certainly does’t seem like a very effective way to do it, and reports suggest it is a clear violation of the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. It's hard to believe the site, which is littered with ads, is supposed to be anything more than a way to make money, with none of the owners being notified. It is probably a good idea to change your IP cam’s password just in case, and be sure to let your friends and family who may still be using a default option know as well.

http://insecam.com/

 

[GagHalfrunt]

Can The Fappening Part 2 be far behind? You know some pervs are going to be camped out 24/7 on anything near a pool or a hot tub hoping to catch some nookie.

 

[imagoon]

Find this same thing with HVAC systems. Including one of our own buildings managed by another company. We found out when someone turned on the heat when it was 99 degrees outside.

 

[Kaido]

Wired UK had an article about something similar last year, where hackers bought, sold, and traded access to women's webcams they dubbed "slaves":

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-03/11/webcam-spying/viewall

Make stuff anonymous & people will do some pretty disgusting things to other people :thumbsdown:

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

Find this same thing with HVAC systems. Including one of our own buildings managed by another company. We found out when someone turned on the heat when it was 99 degrees outside.

There was an Amazon review for one of those IP thermostats. Guy got divorced and the ex wife didn't change the password. He'd turn the heat on during the day while she was gone and then turn the a/c on to cool it back down before she got home.

Likely not true, but gave me a chuckle.

 

[Rakehellion]

Are any of them good?

 

[lxskllr]

They need to be teaching this shit in schools. It's not ok(in most places) to leave the keys in the car while you go grocery shopping, and it's not ok to leave your internet connected shit unsecured. The network stuff isn't as obvious, so people need to be made aware. The earlier, the better.

 

[imagoon]

They also need to teach these guys to update the machines. So many of them are running Windows 2000/XP embedded or some ancient version of RedHat. They then promptly put right on the internet with a public IP.

 

[MustISO]

I quickly checked out the page and the vast majority of the cameras weren't showing anything. It's possible it was an issue with the site.

 

[Ruptga]

It's hardly hacking if they're using the default password. It's like the difference between breaking and entering and mere trespassing.

 

[lozina]

I dont see a single one that works

 

[WiseUp216]

Are any of them good?

So far, I've seen two ghosts, a blow job and a murder. All on the same Russian camera.

 

[manimal]

So far, I've seen two ghosts, a blow job and a murder. All on the same Russian camera.

links?

 

[Matthiasa]

I think all that I checked for for businesses, there is obviously others but most of them probably are for business.

 

[BUTCH1]

Wired UK had an article about something similar last year, where hackers bought, sold, and traded access to women's webcams they dubbed "slaves":

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-03/11/webcam-spying/viewall

Make stuff anonymous & people will do some pretty disgusting things to other people :thumbsdown:

Clicked the link...wow, can't believe that kind of shit is happening but it's unreal in the lengths they will go to..

 

[JMapleton]

Reason #422 why I would not connect any appliance or camera in my home to the internet.

 

[Matthiasa]

Yeah so high of lengths they checked default passwords... Anyone would have done this and they were likely being regularly accessed already.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I don't even feel sorry for the ones who get hacked, I'd hardly even call it hacking considering they're 1: putting these things on an internet facing network and 2: not even bothering to change the password.

Keep that shit behind a NAT firewall at very least, if you need to access remotely use VPN.

Sadly instead of educating people about security they'll just make it practically just as illegal as terrorism and the people who "hack" get ridiculous jail sentences for doing something equivalent to stepping on the neighbor's lawn.