Smart security cameras, doorbells, and baby monitors are meant to keep our homes safe. But if you don’t check their settings, these devices can become a back door for hackers. Hackers can gain access to your cameras over the internet, allowing them to spy on you, steal your footage, or even use the information they collect to plan a burglary.
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This isn’t an exaggeration. A recent report from a US research firm found over 40,000 internet-connected cameras worldwide streaming live footage without any password protection. Anyone with an internet connection could be watching people’s homes, gardens, and driveways. The firm, Bitsight, says that number is likely just the “tip of the iceberg”.
How Can I Check If My Camera Is Vulnerable?
You can use a search engine for internet-connected devices called Shodan to check if your camera is visible online without a password. You can type your camera’s make and model into the search box to see if it appears. If it does, your camera could be vulnerable and you should immediately change its password, update its firmware, and close any open ports.
You can also use a site called Insecam, which shows unsecured video feeds from cameras all over the world. You can search by location or manufacturer, but watching this footage is a gray area, and recording it is illegal. It’s a good idea to check your own devices before you become a statistic.
What About My Home Network?
A poorly secured camera can let hackers into your entire Wi-Fi network. One of the best ways to prevent this is to put your security camera on a guest Wi-Fi network. This separates the camera from your main devices, like your laptop and phone. That way, if a hacker manages to hijack the camera, they won’t be able to access your main network.
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Bibliography:
“Stop hackers spying on your security camera.” Computeractive, Computeractive – Issue 715, 30 July-12 August 2025.
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