Concerns That Website With Reported Ties to Russia Could Be Using IP Cameras to See Inside Your House

If you thought someone on the other side of the world couldn't watch you inside of your own home, think again.

The webiste Insecam, with an Internet Protocol (IP) location reportedly in Russia, uses IP cameras belonging to users who still use their default IP passwords to get a look inside stores, parking lots and even some living rooms and bedrooms.

Perhaps an even more disturbing element is that it broadcasts those feeds for just about anyone in the world to see.

The website shows video feeds from more than 11,000 locations in the U.S. alone and in about 73,000 places worldwide. The number of Insecam video feeds in the U.S. is greater than that of any other country. The Republic of Korea has about 6,500 streams while there are more than 5,000 in China.

Photo credit: Shutterstock

But on its website, Insecam claims it never hacked any cameras.

"Owners of these cameras use default password by unknown reason. There are a lot of ways to search such cameras in internet using [G]oogle, search software or speciali[z]ed search sites," the website says.

However, it doesn't appear that USB cameras on PCs or internal cameras on notebook computers are susceptible. Insecam notes it only collects network surveillance security cameras and digital video registration systems.

The purpose of aggregating IP camera feeds from around the world, Insecam says, is to show the importance of the security settings. Those who wish to remove their cameras from the site need only to change their default password.

It's not entirely possible to know who is behind Insecam. However, its Internet domain is registered with GoDaddy.com and its IP location is in Moscow, according to DomainTools.com.

(H/T: Gizmodo)

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