40,000 Private Webcams Exposed on Dark Web Forums

According to a Bitsight research, private webcam feeds are being exposed online, without their owners’ knowledge.

The cameras include security cameras and baby monitors, accessible via a browser and a valid IP address. The camera feeds, traded in dark web forums, include innocent and sensitive content.

According to the research, exposed private webcam cameras intended to offer safety and convenience can be easily accessed without any coding or hacking skills due to unprotected feeds, default login credentials, and outdated firmware. This issue may be associated with security cameras, surveillance systems, factory and hospital cams, and baby monitors.

According to João Cruz, a Security Research Scientist at Bitsight TRACE, the company had already highlighted the issue in 2023, and based on the findings of this new research, there have been no improvements in this situation.

Webcam protection must be addressed as an essential measure to ensure privacy. You can secure all webcams via internal settings, operating system configuration, or external software.

When looking for software to protect webcams, antivirus software is usually your best option since most include specific features to protect webcams and microphones. This type of software, combined with the best tips for safeguarding webcams, will leave possible hackers powerless and empty-handed.