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Wi-Fi jamming to knock out cameras suspected in nine Minnesota burglaries -- smart security systems vulnerable as tech becomes cheaper and easier to acquire (www.tomshardware.com)
submitted 2 years ago by [M, B] to c/technology@lemmy.world
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Wi-Fi jamming to knock out cameras suspected in nine Minnesota burglaries -- smart security systems vulnerable as tech becomes cheaper and easier to acquire::A serial burglar in Edina, Minnesota is suspected of using a Wi-Fi jammer to knock out connected security cameras before stealing and making off with lots of loot. Such techniques are increasingly popular with criminals.

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[–] 36 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Add it to the pile of reasons to not use cloud based camera systems.

Local storage, with wired connections, or expect it to be knocked out intentionally and at random due to errors/problems outside your control.

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  • [–] 6 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    "cloud" has nothing to do with this. Plenty of people use wireless cameras for local/selfhost setups because it is easier for them to run power than data/ethernet.

    And there are actually very good arguments for wired "cloud" cameras. Because if you still have an internet connection (cable drop to the street), then your footage and alert are now offsite rather than on a hard drive in the house that is being "attacked".

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    I was including wireless local cameras in that, admittedly loose, 'cloud' definition due to the instability wifi introduces.

    A long as that cloud is your own: ie another site you own, or a VPS; mirroring the local storage the cameras are wired to, alright. But not as the primary and only destination.

    There's been plenty of examples of cloud based systems you subscribe to (ie corporate online storage only), cutting off user access, shutting down, having their own network/systems issues, providing data to third parties including authorities without warrants, etc...

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  • [–] 3 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    The cloud is not the problem. Inadequate local buffer is the problem.

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  • [–] 6 points 2 years ago (2 children)

    Wifi jammers could knock it out before the camera sees anything.

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  • [–] 11 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    The jammers don't disable the cameras, they just prevent them from streaming the captured video to the recording machine.

    If the cameras had a local buffer, they'd be able to keep recording even if the signal was jammed.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 years ago (1 child)

    You cannot block a camera from seeing by jamming the wifi. It could simply save the video feed locally and send it to the server when the wifi is restored.

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    • [–] 6 points 2 years ago

    At my old job we ended up finding out that one dude was essentially using the router login page to disable the cheap Wi-Fi cameras so he could mask when he came in to work and left so he could embellish his time cards. Boss noticed a pattern so he installed a manual timeclock and the embellishments slowed and eventually stopped.

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