How more than 100,000 cameras on personal computers and phones across the UK are vulnerable to online hackers
Crooks and weirdos around the world are spying on people in their own homes using a common security loophole
MORE than 100,000 cameras on personal computers and phones across the UK are vulnerable to online hackers, an investigation has revealed.
Live footage from webcams, laptop cameras, smartphones and CCTV is being streamed to overseas websites which anybody can then watch online.
Researchers from Good Morning Britain – which carried out the probe – were able to watch families at home, a pensioner sitting in her living room, the inside of a child’s bedroom, children playing in a primary school playground and people in a health centre waiting room.
None of the people who could be seen in these live streams were aware they were being watched online.
The team also found that once cameras had been hacked they were open to IP trolling, which is where hackers take over the camera’s speakers and can speak to people.
GMB found evidence of this happening to an adult and child.
In footage that aired on the programme today, the pair are in the living room when a voice comes through the speaker saying “Hey you angry b***h, come here f*** me!”
The adult and child are left visibly confused and distressed.
RELATED STORIES
The investigation also discovered that from accessing people’s cameras they could get information about the camera owner’s home address.
A member of the team went to some of these addresses to notify them of the security breach and the cameras were shut down.
The live camera feeds were accessed by GMB’s investigations team through two overseas websites.
The vulnerable camera feeds were those where no password had been set up to protect the security of it or feeds that were using the default password that had not been changed from when the camera was bought.
When the number of cameras that were vulnerable on these websites were added together, there were found to be 125,849 vulnerable devices. They also found various brands of camera had been hacked rather than there being a flaw in one particular make.
Ironically most people install these cameras for security reasons and do not realise their security is actually being compromised.
Tony Neate, boss of Get Safe Online, advised people to ensure they password-protect their cameras.
He said: “The public need to realise that whatever they are doing online they need good strong passwords.
“The worst thing we can do is leave an internet facing camera without a password, we’re just letting people into our lives and letting our privacy being violated.
“Some of these cameras even give away the address and the consequences of giving away that information are terrifying.”
Bob Turney, a reformed burglar, told the show: “Back in my day, when I was a burglar, webcams would have made life a lot easier.
"Knowing where people are, when people are in and what is in the house makes them easy pickings.
"Not to scare anyone but there are worse criminals out there who might want to know when someone is in their house.”
The footage can also be viewed on the ITV Hub website.
ITV's Good Morning Britain, weekdays from 6am
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368