Hackers breach cameras at banks, jails, Tesla and more | Inquirer Technology

Hackers breach cameras at banks, jails, Tesla and more

/ 06:19 PM March 11, 2021

Images captured from hacked surveillance video were posted on Twitter with an #OperationPanopticon hashtag, CCTV, surveillance

Images captured from hacked surveillance video were posted on Twitter with an #OperationPanopticon hashtag/Photographie pixinoo / Getty Images©

A US hacker collective on Tuesday claimed to have tapped into footage from 150,000 security cameras at banks, jails, schools, carmaker Tesla and other sites to expose “the surveillance state.”

Images captured from hacked surveillance video were posted on Twitter with an #OperationPanopticon hashtag.

Article continues after this advertisement

“What if we just absolutely ended surveillance capitalism in two days?” a purported member of a group called APT-69420 Arson Cats asked amid a string of tweeted images.

FEATURED STORIES

“This is the tip of the tip of the tip of the iceberg.”

The hacker group claimed to have ferreted out credentials of an high level administrator account at Silicon Valley firm Verkada, which runs a platform operating security systems online.

Article continues after this advertisement

“We have disabled all internal administrator accounts to prevent any unauthorized access,” a Verkada spokesperson said in response to an AFP inquiry.

Article continues after this advertisement

“Our internal security team and external security firm are investigating the scale and scope of this issue, and we have notified law enforcement.”

Article continues after this advertisement

Verkada added that it has notified companies that rely on its platform.

Surveillance camera imagery posted on Twitter included a jail cell block and a man wearing a fake beard dancing in a bank storage room.

Article continues after this advertisement

The Verkada breach shows the risk of outsourcing security surveillance to companies in the internet cloud, according to Rick Holland, chief information security officer at Digital Shadows, a risk protection firm.

“Verkada positions itself as a ‘more secure, scalable’ alternative to on-premises network video recorders,” Holland said.

“You don’t always get more secure when you outsource your security to a third party.”

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our daily newsletter

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

He said he expected the breach to trigger investigations by privacy regulators in the US and Europe.

TOPICS: computer hacking, security camera, United States
TAGS: computer hacking, security camera, United States

Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again.
Your subscription has been successful.

Subscribe to our newsletter!

By providing an email address. I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy.

© Copyright 1997-2024 INQUIRER.net | All Rights Reserved

This is an information message

We use cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing, you agree to our use of cookies. Learn more here.