Illustration: Created by AI.

Risk of exposure from surveillance cameras

Regularly using surveillance cameras to monitor activities at her store and home since around 2021, although she finds it very convenient in managing employees and promptly supporting family members, Ms. HT (Dong Da, Hanoi) is always worried about the possibility of her and her relatives' information and images being leaked.

“Also because of concerns about image information being leaked, at my home, I chose to sign a service contract with a reputable unit. However, at my home, I still only install camera equipment in locations outside the door, yard or living room, absolutely not in the bedroom or private spaces,” Ms. HT shared.

Ms. HT's concern is a common concern of many people, especially in the context that surveillance camera equipment supplied in the Vietnamese market in recent times is still mainly equipment of unknown origin.

Surveillance camera systems, whether simple or complex, can become targets for hackers. Illustration: Created by AI.

Moreover, not everyone is as lucky as this user, when using a surveillance camera of unknown origin but has not had to face the problem of having their private and personal images leaked.

Globally, the security of information from "magic eyes" is also a difficult problem. In fact, a series of serious data leaks have occurred, from hackers breaking into camera systems of hospitals and schools to illegally distributing private images of users.

In Vietnam, remote physical image monitoring via Internet-connected surveillance cameras has been used by many agencies, organizations and people.

Along with the increasing popularity of Internet-connected surveillance cameras in Vietnam, in recent years, authorities have recorded many cases of personal information being leaked, private camera image data being illegally collected and posted on social networks, causing insecurity for users and significantly affecting social safety and security.

For example, in 2020, according to a survey, the number of cameras with unupdated passwords was up to 70%. In 2023, some hackers sold access to cameras in Vietnam, including systems with more than 100,000 cameras; and the amount spent was only about 800,000 VND to access 15 cameras...

How to use security cameras safely?

Forecasting cyber attack trends in 2025, experts predict that IoT devices, especially poorly secured devices, will be a major target of cyber attack groups.

Speaking to VietNamNet reporters at the end of February 2025, Mr. Vu Ngoc Son, Head of Technology Department, National Cyber ​​Security Association, said that along with targeted attacks - APT and attacks using data encryption malware - upgraded ransomware, attacks on IoT devices are also a prominent cyber attack trend this year.

“Security cameras will be the target of hackers as the number of cameras being installed increases and most of them are connected to the Internet. Attacking cameras helps hackers get a lot of sensitive information such as images and sounds, while cameras, although very important, are not protected like computers,” expert Vu Ngoc Son analyzed.

Experts recommend that users prioritize using famous camera brands with clear and transparent security policies. Illustration: Chi Hieu.

To minimize and prevent the risk of data being stolen via cameras, experts recommend that users prioritize using famous camera brands with clear and transparent security policies; avoid using products of unknown origin or unreliable origin.

When installing and setting up the camera for the first time, users should change the default password to a strong password, including uppercase, lowercase, numbers and special characters. Because a weak security password will create an opportunity for hackers to easily attack and penetrate the system.

Camera manufacturers often release security patches and software upgrades, as older versions often have bugs. Therefore, users also need to ensure that the device is always running on the latest software version to avoid security vulnerabilities.

In addition, experts also recommend: If remote monitoring is not needed, users should turn off the Internet access function to minimize the risk of being attacked when monitoring devices in public places.

In case of using cloud data storage services, users should choose Cloud services from reputable providers with commitments to security and compliance with international safety standards.

At the same time, be careful not to place the camera in places that may invade privacy, such as bedrooms and bathrooms. This will help protect both security and personal privacy.

During use, users are also advised to regularly check access logs to detect suspicious activities and take timely action.

For Wi-Fi devices that the camera is connected to, users should protect the Wi-Fi network with a strong password and enable WPA3 encryption. This helps prevent unauthorized access to the camera over an unsecured network.

Source: https://znews.vn/nguoi-dung-thap-thom-lo-lo-hinh-anh-nhay-cam-khi-dung-camera-giam-sat-post1543879.html