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Adam Bannister is a contributor to IFSEC Global, having been in the role of Editor from 2014 through to November 2019. Adam also had stints as a journalist at cybersecurity publication, The Daily Swig, and as Managing Editor at Dynamis Online Media Group.
May 27, 2016

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How to Protect Your Video Security System from Cyber Attacks [video]

“There are various estimates as to how much hacking is carried out by insiders, which varies from 60-80% of the total. So how well locked down is your CCTV system?”

An excerpt from the video below, these are the words of Jon Laws, who is delivering a presentation in the Tavcom Training Theatre at IFSEC International 2016 about the risks associated with connecting a video security system (VSS) over an IP network for remote operation (scroll to the bottom for further details). Browse the full programme for the Tavcom Training Theatre.

Watch the video or read the transcript below to find out why you need to protect your VSS from cyber attacks and a preview of Jon’s forthcoming IFSEC presentation.

“Hello my name’s is Jon Laws and I’m now in my 30th year in CCTV and started when God was a boy. My degree is in electronics and I’m a total techie – and proud of it.

“I love to get involved in the nuts and bolts of systems. I’ve been involved with the design of the systems from component level upwards.

“Virtually all systems being installed from new are now based on IP networks. This can allow you remote access from anywhere in the world.

A man in a yellow coat can climb up a ladder, open your camera housing, connect with your network from his laptop and install malware onto your system

“Why would you want to look at your CCTV system while sitting in a well-known coffee chain? Do you have any idea how secure your system is when it is connected to the internet?

“Do you have any idea how vulnerable your CCTV system is to attack when it isn’t connected to the internet?

“Is it integrated with your alarms or your access control? If you have an integrated system, have you ever thought that if your system is hacked, it gives access to all the other systems that reside on that same network?

“I’ve carried out some vulnerability exercises for some high-profile clients and have found some very surprising results. Under the new international standard IEC62676-4, we have to grade CCTV, which is a good thing. It requires us to look at the integrity of the system itself.

“One of the vulnerabilities we have is that a man in a yellow coat can climb up a ladder, open your camera housing and connect with your network from his laptop computer and could potentially install malware and other things onto your system.

“What about the insider? There are various estimates as to how much hacking is carried out by insiders, which varies from 60-80% of the total. So how well locked down is your system?

“Come along and join us [at IFSEC] and we’ll give you the lowdown on the ways you can hack your system and you may be quite surprised…

About Jon Laws

Eur. Ing. Jon Laws BSc CEng MIET FConsE MEWI MAE RSES has been a tutor at Tavcom Training for 20 years and has  developed many of its video-related training  programmes. Formerly a project manager around CCTV and integration Jon set up his own consultancy in 1995.

He now sits on British Standards technical committees for VSS (CCTV) developing the European and now international standard BS EN IEC 62676-4.

‘Is your Video Security System (VSS) watertight?’ by Jon Laws will take place in the Tavcom Training Theatre at IFSEC International 2016 at these times and dates:

  • Tuesday 21 June, 14:40-15:10
  • Wednesday 22 June, 11:50-12:20

Register here to attend IFSEC International.

Browse the full programme for the Tavcom Training Theatre.

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highaltidude
highaltidude
June 22, 2016 2:53 am

I just watched another video of his promoting HD over analog and claiming that IP systems are limited by 7 cameras. What?