Tag Archive for: camera

How To Stop Your Wireless Security Camera From Being Hacked


As well as enabling you to remotely keep an eye on your home, wireless security cameras should also protect your data security and home privacy. 

Our product tests and investigations have revealed models that lack even basic protections, and could put you at risk of being hacked.  

All wireless security cameras we review are fully assesed for how they protect you and your data from hackers. See the best wireless security cameras. 

How wireless security cameras get hacked

There are many different ways that an indoor surveillance camera might be targeted by hackers. 

Weak or generic default passwords are one of the most exploitable issues you’ll find. Some wireless cameras come with weak usernames, such as ‘admin’, and also easy to guess passwords, such as ‘admin’ (again), ‘888888’ or ‘123456’. Attackers know this, and can scan for cameras that are online to try these weak login details to gain access. You can also use a password manager to help.

Password security is also an issue if the camera sends unencrypted data. Even if you change the camera’s password, some cameras will send it, unencrypted, over the internet. This means that when you enter your password, an attacker could steal it and use it to access your camera. Some cameras even transmit your wi-fi password, too, putting your home internet at risk.

With some cameras, an attacker can take complete control over the device – known as full camera takeover. This involves gaining what’s known as ‘root’ access to the camera; a bit like having the keys to the front door of a house. They can then tamper with virtually any aspect of the camera and even load it up with malware.


Could your wireless camera be breaking the law? Read more about the laws around privacy and recording footage with security cameras at the home.


What happens if my camera gets hacked?

Unless the camera starts moving without you doing anything, or a voice sounds from the built-in microphone, you might not actually know that your camera has been hacked.

However, the impact of a hacking attack can be devastating; from intrusion to your privacy to potential compromise of other connected devices you have at home.

Smart home spying

Dodgy cameras…

Source…

Jaw-Dropping New Hack Turns Your Phone Screen Into Covert Spy Camera


In a new study published in Science Advances, researchers from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Computer Science and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory have revealed how hackers can turn your smartphone into a spying device akin to the TV screens featured in Orwell’s 1984.

The paper, Imaging privacy threats from an ambient light sensor, reveals how seemingly harmless ambient light sensors, used in most smartphones to auto-adjust screen brightness, are capable of covertly capturing user interactions thanks to a newly developed computational imaging algorithm.

How Smartphone Screens, Not Cameras, Can Spy On Users

I have written plenty of articles covering how seemingly innocuous items can be used to spy on users and create a security threat that one might not ordinarily imagine. Forget the more obvious targets for such stories as smart speakers, and think more about light bulbs and vacuum cleaners, both of which have been subject to research regarding covert surveillance techniques.

MORE FROM FORBESNew Galaxy S24: Samsung Confirms Massive Security Bombshell

More than a hint of 1984 shines through the research by Yang Liu, Gregory W. Wornell, William T. Freeman and Fredo Durand. Instead of Big Brother keeping tabs on citizens through enormous TV screens everywhere, the researchers talk of how hackers could covertly capture user gestures through the small screens we carry everywhere: smartphones.

More precisely, the researchers focus on the ambient light sensors that enable our smartphones to adjust screen brightness to match our environment. Apps can use ambient light sensors without the need to ask permission from the user. The lack of permission control is not exactly surprising, given that such sensors have not been considered a privacy or security risk. Until now.

MORE FROM FORBESGmail 2024 Hack Attack Advice: Turn It Off And On Again, Google Says

Novel Smartphone Security Risk Revealed By MIT Researchers

“The ambient light sensor needs to be always on for functionality and is…

Source…

Pixel 2024 update solves Camera app crashes and display flickering


What you need to know

  • Google’s light January 2024 security patch aims to solve an annoying crashing problem with the Camera app on Pixel devices.
  • The company has included several “High” level vulnerability fixes for its Pixel line’s framework and system.
  • The Pixel Tablet and Pixel Fold have also received fixes for specific problems, alongside a screen flickering fix for the Pixel 8.

Google is starting the year off with a security patch aimed at correcting some frustrating problems plaguing Pixel users.

The company’s update states the January 2024 security patch is rolling out for the Pixel 5a (5G), Pixel 6, 6 Pro, 6a, and Pixel Tablet bearing update version UQ1A.240105.002. Those rocking a Pixel 7, 7 Pro, 7a, Pixel Fold, or Pixel 8 series device will pick up version UQ1A.240105.004.

Source…

How to Fix a “Security policy prevents use of Camera” Android Error


Getting a “Security policy prevents use of Camera” error while trying to use your Android phone’s Camera app? You might have disabled a sensor option on your phone, or your app might be acting up. Here are a few ways to resolve your issue, so you can get back to capturing beautiful pictures.

While there are various reasons your Camera app displays the above error, the most common ones are that your phone has a minor bug, the Camera app’s cache is corrupt, or the settings are faulty, you have a malicious app installed on your phone, your phone’s system settings are incorrect, and more.

Activate the Sensors on Your Samsung or Another Android Phone

One reason you can’t use your Android phone’s Camera app and get an error message is that you’ve disabled your phone’s various sensors. Some phones offer this option in the Quick Settings menu, and you or someone else may have toggled the option to disable the sensors.

You can fix that by ensuring your sensors are turned on.

Activate the Sensors on Your Android Phone from Quick Settings

  1. Pull down twice from the top of your phone’s screen.
  2. Tap Sensors Off to activate your phone’s sensors.

Activate the Sensors on Your Android Phone from Settings

If you don’t see the Sensors Off option in Quick Settings, enable the option in your phone’s settings menu as follows:

  1. Open Settings on your Android phone.
  2. Select About phone > Software information in Settings and tap Build number seven times. This will unlock the Developer options menu.
  3. Head back to Settings’ main screen and choose Developer options > Quick settings developer tiles.
  4. Turn on the Sensors Off option.
  1. Pull down twice from the top of your phone’s screen and choose Sensors Off.

After activating your phone’s sensors, launch the Camera app and see if the app works.

Reboot Your Samsung Phone or Another Android Phone

Android’s minor system problems can cause your Camera app not to work. In this situation, you can resolve most minor system issues by simply rebooting your phone.

Doing that turns off all your phone’s features and then reloads those features, fixing minor issues….

Source…