Security cameras play a vital role in protecting homes and businesses, but hackers often target them. When someone hacks a camera, they not only invade your privacy but also expose your property to potential threats. By recognizing the signs of a security breach, you can respond quickly and safeguard your devices. Here’s how to identify a hacked security camera and take action to fix it.
How CCTV Systems Can Be Hacked
Remote Hacks
If an IoT (Internet of Things) camera transmits video feeds via the internet, hackers may find their way into the system through the online IP address after obtaining the signature information and default password, which many businesses do not change (more on this later) and which are often not supported by two-factor authentication
Local Hacks
Many people hook CCTV cameras into a network wireless router with a built-in modem, but organizations often fail to update the default network name and password. If a hacker cannot access the cameras directly, they may infiltrate the network and work their way into the connected cameras. They will often spoof the wireless network into thinking they are registering an authentic device, or try and overload the network by denial-of-service.
Backdoor Attacks
Backdoors provide unauthorized access to a computer system or encrypted data that bypasses the infrastructure’s primary security controls. Backdoors may often be created for the purposes of legitimate troubleshooting or remote access in the event of a fault. However, threat actors can locate these backdoors, often as a result of unpatched or outdated security software, firewalls, and firmware. Hackers can usually spot these vulnerabilities with ease.
Brute Force
A brute force attack is a trial-and-error method used to obtain information such as a user password or personal identification number (PIN). In a brute force attack, automated software is used to generate many consecutive guesses of the password until it gets it right. What this means is that once the hacker has found your password protected CCTV system, they run a small program that simply continues to guess and submit passwords until it finds the right one.
The brute force attack can simply run forever until it finds the correct password, and if you have a simple one like 0000 or 1234 or similar, it will only take a few mins to hack your system.
Signs That Your Security Camera Has Been Hacked
Even though you don’t want to think about it, criminals can hack into security cameras relatively easily if you don’t take the right steps or put procedures in place. In the event of a suspected hacking, there are a few signs you can look for.
Strange Sounds and Unfamiliar Voices
Generally speaking, security cameras like IP cameras, baby monitors, or surveillance cameras should be silenced if you don’t use the speaker. In rare cases, if hackers gain unauthorized access to the microphone of your security camera to eavesdrop or transmit audio, you may notice some unfamiliar voices or conversations from the area monitored by your camera. Therefore, this sign could indicate that your security camera has been hacked.
Unusual Camera Movements
One sign of a compromised security camera is often unusual behavior. If you notice your camera pans, tilts, or zooms without user input, it may be under external control. Check to see if the camera is panning across the room. If so, it may already have been hijacked and remotely controlled by hackers to spy on your room.
Camera LED Light Turns On Unexpectedly
Many security cameras have an LED light that illuminates when the camera is in use. However, if the LED light is blinking or flashing but you’re not using it, it may be a clear indication that someone is remotely taking control of your security camera.
Unusual Network Activity
How can you detect if your security camera has been hacked? You can also track the data flow on your network, and on your video surveillance camera. Pay special attention to sudden spikes in your network traffic, which reveals something unusual invalid login in your video feed.
The Camera Security Settings Have Been Changed
If you notice that settings on your CCTV system have been changed without your knowledge or if there are users accessing the system who should not have access, it’s a strong indication that your system has been compromised.
Hackers may add new user accounts, change passwords, or modify camera settings to suit their needs.
Increased Data Usage
In the day and age of fiber and uncapped Wi-Fi, people should be more vigilant about data usage. Some camera apps allow you to see exactly how much data your security camera uses. Keep an eye out for dramatic spikes in data usage. Another subtle indication can be if your Wi-Fi suddenly becomes slower—however, this is not always a sign of a hack.
How to Protect Your Security Camera
Use Strong, Unique Passwords
Some people might directly use the default username and password for the security camera. That’s really risky because hackers will ping every device on the internet to automatically decrypt and hack into your device. So, you should change to a strong password with a combination of lower-case and upper-case letters, numbers, and special characters.
Use Two-Factor Authentication (2FA)
Two-factor authentication (2FA) adds an extra layer of security by requiring users to verify their identity using two methods: something they know (a password) and something they have (a code sent to their phone, for example).
Enabling 2FA on your CCTV system, especially for remote access, can significantly reduce the chances of unauthorized access.
Update Firmware and Software
Keep the camera’s firmware and any related software up to date to protect against vulnerabilities that hackers can exploit. Manufacturers often release firmware updates to patch security flaws and improve functionality.
Enabling automatic updates can ensure you always have the latest version running on your devices.
Limit Access to Trusted Individuals Only
Ensure that only trusted individuals have access to your CCTV system. If you run a business, limit access to a few key personnel and provide each with unique user credentials.
This makes it easier to track who is accessing the system and when. Regularly review access logs to ensure no unauthorized individuals are using the system.
Secure Network Connections
Protect your network using a dedicated network for your CCTV system, which can isolate sensitive video data from other network traffic, reducing the risk of interception.
Employ strong encryption for wireless networks, use VPNs for remote access, and enable multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security. Firewalls and intrusion detection systems can also help monitor and control incoming and outgoing network traffic, safeguarding against unauthorized access.
What to Do If Your Security Camera is Hacked?
- Disconnect the camera from the network to prevent further unauthorized access.
- Change the passwords for both the camera itself and any associated accounts immediately.
- Download and install the latest firmware to patch vulnerabilities and bugs in the system.
- Use fully-fledged antivirus software to scan all your devices to get rid of possible malware.
- Secure your Wi-Fi network with a strong password using WPA2 or WPA3 encryption.
- Consider upgrading to a new security camera with two-factor authentication and encryptions.
- Reach out to the camera manufacturer’s customer support during the guarantee period.
Conclusion
Security cameras should give you peace of mind not create new risks. If you notice any of the signs above, take immediate steps to secure your devices and network. Regular maintenance, strong passwords, and software updates are simple but effective ways to keep hackers at bay. Stay vigilant and proactive to protect your privacy.
