insecure webcam awareness

[David]

http://gizmodo.com/5977915/this-inte...e-webcam-feeds

This new web app mashes together insecure feeds from Trendnet home security cameras with Google Maps to let you spy on people all over the world. It's horrible, dreadful, disgusting—and utterly compelling.

There is no getting around the fact that you are taking a peek into some very, very personal environments here—and if you head to the site you'll feel euqal parts sick and fascinated. Ultimately what makes this feel so intrusive is the fact that the video feeds are tied to accurate geographic locations. But in truth the site has been established to raise awareness of an ongoing vulnerability in Trendnet home security cameras.

The problem was first spotted early 2012, and was all over Reddit and 4chan this time last year. But, while Trendnet claims to have notified all owners of affected cameras, it clearly—for whatever reason—hasn't done a good enough job. The hope is that this site will raise awareness and get people to sort out the problem. Which is easy enough to do! There's a firmware update, linked to on the site, that people can use to fix the security hole. So, if you can find your own feed or that of a friend, you know what to do.

Otherwise, creeps all over the internet will be able to do what you just did, indefinitely: see sleeping babies, people's living rooms, all manner of bustling offices and—rather less exciting—industrial store rooms. Please make it stop. [Trendnet Cams via Network World via Verge]

lol make people aware by broadcasting it worldwide with accurate locations

[Calvin]

The majority of them don't even work anyway.

[Cerys]

Whatt, so if you have one of these cameras, you're at risk of being watched? A bit creepy.

[Kardan]

Oh my lord, one of the 3 of the cams in the UK is at my University...

Ok, not far off, a road or two...

[Red]

omg so creepy

[David]

why do people have cams in their bed rooms though

[peteyt]

Whatt, so if you have one of these cameras, you're at risk of being watched? A bit creepy.

Webcams can be hacked. I heard of a case years back where someone apparently started controlling someone's pc and sending stuff on notepad e.g. I can see what your wearing and stuff. I have a USB webcam I occasionally use but unplug it for security when I'm not using it.

[Kardan]

why do people have cams in their bed rooms though

Parents like to keep an eye on their children at night, especially those who might work away from home and even abroad.

[Absently]

i remember there used to be a link posted on here a while back where you could watch lots of different webcams, a lot would show bars, beaches and a lot of peoples rooms in their houses.

wow...

[Kieran]

Looks like Google have disabled the GeoLocation on the website.