An IP camera, often known as an Internet protocol webcam, is a form of digital surveillance camera that collects and transmits video data via an IP network. They are frequently employed in surveillance.
Yes, you can find unsecured IP cameras all across the globe and even secure them. There are many ways to find unsecured IP cameras and secure them. However, some of them are given below:-
- Accessing the IP camera through the default password
- Using the user profile to access the IP camera
- Using command line arguments or tools
- Using common bugs to gain access to IP camera
This article will explain how can someone find unsecured IP cameras and later on secure them. Furthermore, methods of securing such IP cameras along with the possible consequences will be discussed in detail.
How Does IP Camera Network Work?
IP cameras, unlike analog closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, require just a local network and no local recording hardware. IP cameras access the system in a similar manner as computers and telephones.
Coaxial video cable is required for analog and analog-over-digital surveillance cameras to send video to something like a digital video recorder (DVR). IP security cameras, on the contrary, may broadcast footage through a wireless link.
IP cameras specifically link to a networked video recorder (NVR) through Wi-Fi, Ethernet, or USB. Based on the camera type, an IP camera may capture high-definition video with a resolution of up to 16 megapixels.
Each IP camera is fitted with a compression chip that compresses the recorded video while it is being captured. What does that imply? Well, the greater the camera’s resolution, the more data is contained in each video clip.
High-resolution photos demand more storage space and transmission capacity than low-resolution ones. The main purpose of IP cameras is surveillance.
To send HD pictures across a connection, IP cameras must condense the data, or make them smaller, so as not to consume an excessive amount of network capacity.
Modern compression standards such as h.264 and MPEG-4 ensure that there is no reduction in frame rate or resolution when the video ultimately reaches the phone or computer, or only a minor drop.
Utilizing IP Cameras
Great for keeping a watch on your home, family, and pets, network and internet cameras — typically branded as IP cameras — have been commonly used to monitor your property, family, and pets.
These cameras give remote access to live audio and video streams via an internet browser. However, many IP cameras just on market are susceptible to digital espionage, making security features essential when purchasing and employing these devices.
Despite improvements in recent times, many CCTV cameras remained alarmingly vulnerable to assault. To defeat security standards and get accessibility to video surveillance systems, malicious actors have created a vast array of approaches.
Others prefer more complex intrusions, while some utilize relatively basic vulnerabilities. Talented hackers may compromise your security systems or workplace surveillance network through a variety of means.
Once inside, they may utilize remote access to monitor the world from your cameras—or perhaps even seize command of them. Therefore, these flaws mainly negate the objective of engaging in a monitoring system.
Following the 2017 disclosure that more than a half-dozen Hikvision Wi-Fi cameras could be accessed via a backdoor reset password bug, the whole business received a wake-up message on this fact.
How To Secure And Access Unsecured IP Cameras
One can adopt the following methods to secure and access unsecured IP cameras:-
1. Access Through Default Password
Anyone wishing to gain access to CCTV cameras may do so by locating the IP address online as well as logging in since the default passwords are not usually changed.
By employing engines including angryip.org and shadon.io, users may collect that signature information or begin testing passwords that will enable access to the Wi-Fi camera on its own or, if a router is compromised, complete security systems.
Theoretically, this should be challenging, and IP security should secure network data, but the alarming reality is that such passwords are frequently identical to the manufacturer’s default factory settings.
In the Hikvision attack, the password was “12345” and the username was “admin.” Changing the default credentials for a fresh security camera system ought to be a no-brainer in the twenty-first century. Although, this may seem like common sense, far too many devices are using default or weak credentials.
Therefore, if an unauthorized person can easily log in using a frequent or a factory-set login (default login) to acquire remote access to the interior and outdoor surveillance, then all the gateways and toughest internet protocol in the world won’t be able to protect the system.
2. Determine The User ID
Although CCTV cameras are more difficult to compromise, hostile actors might check for the user ID. This was easily located in a Hikvision cookie value.
Hackers may then reset the profile to get complete access to systems, their hard drives, and possibly the entire wireless security system.
While the user ID is an encrypted key, it is possible to get the user ID of some other user just by having the email, phone number, or username they provided during registration.
3. Implementing Command Lines
The Hikvision system had a “backdoor” instruction line of code that, when exploited, provided administrator-level access. Once this became widely known, the Chinese corporation identified and patched the vulnerability.
The fix was subsequently included in firmware upgrades for each of its security cameras that have known vulnerabilities. Developers omitted to delete the code from the testing process before deployment, as indicated by Hikvision in a public statement.
Despite all the publicity in the security industry, many operators never update the firmware on their surveillance cameras. Therefore, even amateur hackers would likely continue to exploit this vulnerability.
Conclusion
It can be deduced from the above discussion that there are ways to access unsecured IP cameras and secure them. However, this practice has been relied upon mostly by hackers to exploit those camera systems.
The combination of constant monitoring and information to appropriate is a potent one. All enterprises should seek to strengthen these essential elements, both internally and when forming partnerships with reputable businesses.
