IFSEC Insider is operated by a business or businesses owned by Informa PLC and all copyright resides with them. Informa PLC's registered office is 5 Howick Place, London SW1P 1WG. Registered in England and Wales. Number 8860726.
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.
For decades CCTV has been deployed with great success in the fight against crime.
But if security cameras have long been a reliable means of catching people in the act of breaking and entering, the advent of IP surveillance means that criminals can now turn the tables on those who operate the cameras. They can ‘break and enter’ onto networks via the camera itself.
In the video below, Sophos researcher James Lyne shows you how to hack a security camera. It’s alarmingly easy and should concentrate minds in the security industry – and that that applies to manufacturers, installers and CCTV operators alike.
Discover the latest developments in the rapidly-evolving video surveillance sector by downloading the 2023 Video Surveillance Report. Over 500 responses to our survey, which come from integrators to consultants and heads of security, inform our analysis of the latest trends including AI, the state of the video surveillance market, uptake of the cloud, and the wider economic and geopolitical events impacting the sector!
Download for FREE to discover top industry insight around the latest innovations in video surveillance systems.
Watch how to hack a security camera. It’s alarmingly simpleSophos researcher James Lyne shows you how to hack a security camera. It's alarmingly easy and should concentrate minds in the security industry.
Adam Bannister
IFSEC Insider | Security and Fire News and Resources
Related Topics
Paxton employees raise over £9k for Teenage Cancer Trust
Security benefits of installing mesh networks
The Body Shop boosts operational efficiency with locker solution
Subscribe
42 Comments
Oldest
NewestMost Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments
HARRY ELLIOT
July 13, 2017 9:13 am
It is against the privacy of people. So the people should be beware of these hacks. They should be given proper security by the companies who are dealing in camera industry. In fact, security cameras are most vulnerable because most of the people who deploy them don’t change their default username and password making it a cakewalk for hackers to hack them.
The issue identified following the Dyn DNS attack was that the CCTV cameras used in the DDoS attack had a root or admin user with a hardset password that can not be changed – not just that there was a default username and password.
As long as it’s connected to a non-airgapped LAN, yes, but if it’s simply wired directly to a monitor or on an airgapped network then no
oreison
November 14, 2017 12:41 pm
thank you for these tricks!
oreison
November 14, 2017 2:51 pm
can some one access to the camera without internet access?
aniket
November 28, 2017 3:34 pm
i think my cctv system has been hacked by some of the company member several times. i am not able figure out in the footage . Can they change the video as shown in movies ? i think there are softwares available for that. if it is really happening how can i stop it
Nick Ts
December 5, 2017 12:22 pm
mate the petrol station is in Southampton UK, just opposite the Univeristy. It’s not Malaysia
James
December 8, 2017 7:54 am
The leading manufacturer we use make you change the pass word and is has to be a high security one that you change it to.
Robert Brent
January 30, 2018 4:00 am
For easy recovery of photo or video on a website or you need to delete unwanted video or photo from a website and all hacking job such as , website hacking, emil, iphone, security camera and access control hacking, and bank hacking , to hire us please contact us by email: [email protected] and state what you want to do and we would help you ?
I actually want to learn hacking to help the society nothing. I am a CCTV installation Engineer , I really want to know about how to hack CCTV
Kim
March 8, 2018 7:10 pm
Yeah the other night out of the blue I’m awakened to my alarm doing the 45 second count down.. I heard my husband get up and punch in the code to then disarm it but when I woke up again to use bathroom I walked into the hall and the alarm went off. The police called right away which it’s usually the alarm company. I honestly think my husband used the alarm and camera company he did because he spies on me. We have all windows and doors but the bathroom. Who is professional and forgets to secure the bathroom… Read more »
Is Hughes net a great company to have if you plan on hacking your wife’s home network and use her security system against her so like you know when she’s not home and who is there at her house and when. It’s a great stalking tool that I bought into paying 3,000 dollars for but he got the guy he said from great reviews but I wasn’t at all impressed with this company. I was totally worked by my soon to be ex I can’t believe I fell for it. But it was easy because my soon to e ex… Read more »
Dame Essentials
March 9, 2018 10:50 am
Thanks for posting about home surveillance equipment that helps to give us full of security and protection.
Miles Corcoran
March 18, 2018 10:39 am
People can see what your doing from the camera on your: phone tablet computer laptop and others. put a sticker on it
Kanha
March 29, 2018 1:33 pm
Bhartiy gang
Martijn
April 14, 2018 8:02 pm
Ive worked for several it companies (huge ones too) and now i’m a hobbyist hacker. I can tell you when time pressure is an issue (which it always is) security is not an issue. (well fix it later, blame someone else).
linx
August 15, 2018 12:42 pm
I died
Newly
October 25, 2018 12:42 am
How can the average person protect themselves?? I am not tech savvy.
Fallout 4 Won’t Launch On The PC
November 25, 2018 8:40 am
Hello, Closed-circuit television (CCTV), also known as video surveillance,[1][2] is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors. It differs from broadcast television in that the signal is not openly transmitted, though it may employ point to point (P2P), point to multipoint (P2MP), or mesh wired or wireless links.
Yep, and so many ways to do it. Reverse TV Lightwave Interpolation, Vulnerable devices with IR remotes can even see you in the dark! Then you got your older smoke detectors with radioactive elements misbehaving and broadcasting your movements through walls, Hell, even those LED light bulbs. I found a full suit of chainmail on Craigslist DarkWeb and I wear it whenever I leave the panic room.
Crazy world
Victoria Tegg
February 20, 2019 5:18 am
Suddenly my logitech program’s sound is super soft. It doesn’t matter what I do it sucks.. OBS causes lags with recording but sounds is good.. xsplit has this echo I can’t seem to remove. windows thing doesn’t work.. I’m so screwed.. I have to wait 2 more months before I can get a new phone 🙁 and vdub isn’t easy to use… I’m a bit clueless what to do.
Ludo
February 28, 2019 11:50 am
We’re always interested in looking at the security of consumer and enterprise kit, whether it’s for a customer as part of a product security evaluation, or for our own interest.
You poor thing it’s not your husband it’s the government and the government is more than capable of making you think you’re crazy enough to be taking the abuse from your husband while he said the First Security System just to watch everything you do! That’s not what happened I promise you because my husband once thought I was doing that to him and I had to explain to him it was the government he now believes me I’ll look into everything else the government sees volume your husband loves you don’t divorce him over your paranoia maybe he just… Read more »
Alisha Ross
April 5, 2019 4:52 am
Wow. This is great, you just saved me from a lot of stress. I’ve wasted hours searching for the right tool. I thank God i found your great information.
Regards Ross Alisha
AngieA
April 8, 2019 10:15 pm
How can I protect myself. My home cameras are being hacked daily. I have to put covers over the lens. Can they still see me inside my home? Also, sometimes I caught them backing up footage and the most annoying thing is that they mute my alarm. One of my cameras is now defective and looks like a swarm of bees, unable to identify anyone in the frame. What can they be using and how can I protect myself and home? Thank you.
Apparently yes but first they let themselves in with software !
Eve Hunt
April 19, 2019 5:29 am
Wonderful site. Lots of useful info here. I’m sending it to several pals ans additionally sharing in delicious. And obviously, thanks to your sweat!
Regards: Eve Hunt
Alisha Ross
June 24, 2019 7:09 am
Thanks! on windows 8 there’s no lifeframe, but there is that camera picture on the v, so if anyone is on windows 8, it actually takes you to “”camera”” which still does the recording, just seems to be a more basic GUI. Thanks a lot for the help!
Regards Ross Alisha
Ashley Johnson
June 26, 2019 6:25 pm
I liked that you said that having a security camera installed will help you catch thieves. I would imagine that it would be easy to turn in surveillance camera footage to the police in order to find the culprit. I will be sure to have cameras installed so that I can find the people who broke in.
Richard
July 11, 2019 2:49 pm
Can surveillance cameras be hacked using a remote control interface and a CCTV tester to view what’s happening?
The fact is, most people are told about how to keep themselves better secure and how to not become a target or easy prey. The problem is people start becoming, not just forgetful, but lazy, ignorant, and cocky. Why do I say that? Because one of the biggest known phrases from everyone who has become compromised, “I never thought it would happen to me…” I work in the industry, and tell client’s every day about what to look out for and how to better protect themselves, but unless people have someone directly with them to tell them every time they… Read more »
How can u tell time lapse can they interrupt live time
Gexter
November 6, 2019 3:52 am
In where I live the company usually said something like if you change the password or username from the default setting, if you have problems later, they won’t gaurantee that they can help you in case user forget password or if the device is broken.
Jeff
December 12, 2019 11:57 am
Can they hack even if your on a secure network?
Harold
December 16, 2019 8:38 pm
It’s so simple to hack security cameras. Really? Anything Simple would not take and 8 minute Vd
Jamesbowser
January 25, 2020 4:08 am
How do you hack a lock
ASAD
May 21, 2021 8:55 pm
Hi,
Is there any ways to control cctv system if it is not connected to internet?
Accessing devices using the default usernames and passwords is not “hacking”… that’s like opening an unlocked screen door being called “breaking and entering” (it’s “entry without permission”).
It is against the privacy of people. So the people should be beware of these hacks. They should be given proper security by the companies who are dealing in camera industry. In fact, security cameras are most vulnerable because most of the people who deploy them don’t change their default username and password making it a cakewalk for hackers to hack them.
Are they still able to hack a security camera system if is not connect to a WiFi
of course. even without internet they can see through your clothes no matter how many layers you put on. poor man !!!
The issue identified following the Dyn DNS attack was that the CCTV cameras used in the DDoS attack had a root or admin user with a hardset password that can not be changed – not just that there was a default username and password.
As long as it’s connected to a non-airgapped LAN, yes, but if it’s simply wired directly to a monitor or on an airgapped network then no
thank you for these tricks!
can some one access to the camera without internet access?
i think my cctv system has been hacked by some of the company member several times. i am not able figure out in the footage . Can they change the video as shown in movies ? i think there are softwares available for that. if it is really happening how can i stop it
mate the petrol station is in Southampton UK, just opposite the Univeristy. It’s not Malaysia
The leading manufacturer we use make you change the pass word and is has to be a high security one that you change it to.
For easy recovery of photo or video on a website or you need to delete unwanted video or photo from a website and all hacking job such as , website hacking, emil, iphone, security camera and access control hacking, and bank hacking , to hire us please contact us by email: [email protected] and state what you want to do and we would help you ?
I actually want to learn hacking to help the society nothing. I am a CCTV installation Engineer , I really want to know about how to hack CCTV
Yeah the other night out of the blue I’m awakened to my alarm doing the 45 second count down.. I heard my husband get up and punch in the code to then disarm it but when I woke up again to use bathroom I walked into the hall and the alarm went off. The police called right away which it’s usually the alarm company. I honestly think my husband used the alarm and camera company he did because he spies on me. We have all windows and doors but the bathroom. Who is professional and forgets to secure the bathroom… Read more »
Is Hughes net a great company to have if you plan on hacking your wife’s home network and use her security system against her so like you know when she’s not home and who is there at her house and when. It’s a great stalking tool that I bought into paying 3,000 dollars for but he got the guy he said from great reviews but I wasn’t at all impressed with this company. I was totally worked by my soon to be ex I can’t believe I fell for it. But it was easy because my soon to e ex… Read more »
Thanks for posting about home surveillance equipment that helps to give us full of security and protection.
People can see what your doing from the camera on your: phone tablet computer laptop and others. put a sticker on it
Bhartiy gang
Ive worked for several it companies (huge ones too) and now i’m a hobbyist hacker. I can tell you when time pressure is an issue (which it always is) security is not an issue. (well fix it later, blame someone else).
I died
How can the average person protect themselves?? I am not tech savvy.
Hello, Closed-circuit television (CCTV), also known as video surveillance,[1][2] is the use of video cameras to transmit a signal to a specific place, on a limited set of monitors. It differs from broadcast television in that the signal is not openly transmitted, though it may employ point to point (P2P), point to multipoint (P2MP), or mesh wired or wireless links.
Yep, and so many ways to do it. Reverse TV Lightwave Interpolation, Vulnerable devices with IR remotes can even see you in the dark! Then you got your older smoke detectors with radioactive elements misbehaving and broadcasting your movements through walls, Hell, even those LED light bulbs. I found a full suit of chainmail on Craigslist DarkWeb and I wear it whenever I leave the panic room.
Crazy world
Suddenly my logitech program’s sound is super soft. It doesn’t matter what I do it sucks.. OBS causes lags with recording but sounds is good.. xsplit has this echo I can’t seem to remove. windows thing doesn’t work.. I’m so screwed.. I have to wait 2 more months before I can get a new phone 🙁 and vdub isn’t easy to use… I’m a bit clueless what to do.
We’re always interested in looking at the security of consumer and enterprise kit, whether it’s for a customer as part of a product security evaluation, or for our own interest.
You poor thing it’s not your husband it’s the government and the government is more than capable of making you think you’re crazy enough to be taking the abuse from your husband while he said the First Security System just to watch everything you do! That’s not what happened I promise you because my husband once thought I was doing that to him and I had to explain to him it was the government he now believes me I’ll look into everything else the government sees volume your husband loves you don’t divorce him over your paranoia maybe he just… Read more »
Wow. This is great, you just saved me from a lot of stress. I’ve wasted hours searching for the right tool. I thank God i found your great information.
Regards
Ross Alisha
How can I protect myself. My home cameras are being hacked daily. I have to put covers over the lens. Can they still see me inside my home? Also, sometimes I caught them backing up footage and the most annoying thing is that they mute my alarm. One of my cameras is now defective and looks like a swarm of bees, unable to identify anyone in the frame. What can they be using and how can I protect myself and home? Thank you.
Apparently yes but first they let themselves in with software !
Wonderful site. Lots of useful info here. I’m sending it to several pals ans additionally sharing in delicious. And obviously, thanks to your sweat!
Regards: Eve Hunt
Thanks! on windows 8 there’s no lifeframe, but there is that camera picture on the v, so if anyone is on windows 8, it actually takes you to “”camera”” which still does the recording, just seems to be a more basic GUI. Thanks a lot for the help!
Regards
Ross Alisha
I liked that you said that having a security camera installed will help you catch thieves. I would imagine that it would be easy to turn in surveillance camera footage to the police in order to find the culprit. I will be sure to have cameras installed so that I can find the people who broke in.
Can surveillance cameras be hacked using a remote control interface and a CCTV tester to view what’s happening?
They can definitely change the video. They can delete one section and replace it with another.
The fact is, most people are told about how to keep themselves better secure and how to not become a target or easy prey. The problem is people start becoming, not just forgetful, but lazy, ignorant, and cocky. Why do I say that? Because one of the biggest known phrases from everyone who has become compromised, “I never thought it would happen to me…” I work in the industry, and tell client’s every day about what to look out for and how to better protect themselves, but unless people have someone directly with them to tell them every time they… Read more »
You are right man
How can u tell time lapse can they interrupt live time
In where I live the company usually said something like if you change the password or username from the default setting, if you have problems later, they won’t gaurantee that they can help you in case user forget password or if the device is broken.
Can they hack even if your on a secure network?
It’s so simple to hack security cameras. Really? Anything Simple would not take and 8 minute Vd
How do you hack a lock
Hi,
Is there any ways to control cctv system if it is not connected to internet?
Accessing devices using the default usernames and passwords is not “hacking”… that’s like opening an unlocked screen door being called “breaking and entering” (it’s “entry without permission”).