Schumer warns of webcam, ‘Smart’ TV, baby monitor hackers
U.S. Sen. Charles E. Schumer on Sunday called on device manufacturers to adopt improved safety and security standards to help prevent hackers from breaking into individuals’ camera-enabled devices, and live streaming personal lives for all to see.
Schumer said that newer “smart” televisions and other devices, such as baby monitors or webcams, now equipped with built-in cameras, microphones and Internet access, are valuable innovations but have posed a threat to New Yorkers since their development, and that concern became a reality last week when the Russian website www.insecam.cc hacked into homes and streamed live footage from thousands of cameras ranging from baby monitors, webcams and surveillance cameras. Hackers were able to access cameras when default passwords set by manufacturers remained unchanged once set up in a home or business.
Schumer said although one website has since been changed, there is nothing to prevent the occurrence of similar privacy breaches, which expose thousands of New Yorkers to voyeurism, robbery and even blackmail. Security settings, set by the device manufacturers, must change to protect consumers. Schumer on Sunday called for television, camera and baby monitor manufacturers to improve security standards on these devices.