The BBC said ICO provided it with a link to the Russian site, but the BBC opted not to publish it. As a last-ditch effort, Rice suggests simply covering the camera when it's not in use.Ĭhina's Foscam brand (pictured) was the most commonly listed on the site, the BBC reported, followed by Linksys and Panasonic. Those with an in-home (or office) camera who have no intention of remotely viewing footage should check the device's settings to turn off that function. But if you don't configure the network correctly, your webcam becomes an open window into your life. Sure, it's great to check up on your house or sleeping baby remotely. You should probably put a little more effort into setting up a new camera system, though. 'If you take only one security step when getting any new device, make sure it's setting a strong password,' he wrote. In a blog post, Rice outlined the precautions folks should take: First and foremost, change your default password. This 'is a threat that all of us need to be aware of and be taking action to protect against,' said Simon Rice, group manager for technology at the ICO.Ībout 500 of the feeds come from the U.K., and more than 5,000 from the U.S., according to the BBC. The hackers infiltrated a number of systemsfrom CCTV networks to baby monitor camerasand are streaming views of offices, gyms, pubs, shops, even the inside of a child's bedroom. The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) reported that the site accesses information by using thousands of cameras' default login credentials, which are available online. privacy watchdog has issued a warning about a Russian website that streams live footage from insecure webcams around the world. How to Set Up Two-Factor AuthenticationĪ U.K.How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac.How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files.How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill.How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad.

How to Block Robotexts and Spam Messages.

Russian hacking sites