Breached webcam and baby monitor site flagged by watchdogs

Data watchdogs across the world have drawn attention to the Russian-based site, which broadcasts footage from systems using either default passwords or no log-in codes at all.The site lists streams from more than 250 countries.It currently provides 500 feeds from the UK alone.They include what appear to be images from:an office in Warwickshirea child's bedroom in Birminghama home's driveway in Nottinghamshirea gym in Manchester, a pub in Salforda shop interior in LondonThe site's database shows listings for 4,591 cameras in the US, 2,059 in France and 1,576 in the Netherlands.Smaller numbers of feeds are also identified as being available from developing economies including Nicaragua, Pakistan, Kenya, Paraguay and Zimbabwe.Some of the feeds showed a static image but did not otherwise appear to be working.The privacy watchdogs have provided the name of the site to the media, however the BBC has opted not to publish it.As well as setting hard-to-guess passwords instead of the default one that came with the device, camera owners are also being advised to check their equipment and turn off remote access if they do not need it.UK Information Commissioner Christopher Graham said he wanted to "sound a general alert", warning "there are people out there who are snooping".He told BBC Breakfast: "It's got more than 500 UK webcams where there is a facility for remote access to check what's going on in the shop, what's going on at home, how's the baby."If the site was actually trying to alert people to the security breach - as it claims - then "now we all know and please will they take it down," he added.When asked about a feed that appeared to show a child in its bedroom, Mr Graham said: "It is spooky. But after all, it is the responsibility of the parents to set a proper password if you want remote access."He said he would work with the Russian authorities and others to have the website shut down, adding that such a site would be illegal in the UK.Those whose webcams and baby monitors had been breached cannot be contacted due to the Data Protection Act and the Computer Misuse Act, said the commissioner.The ICO acknowledged that some parts of the press might now identify the site, driving traffic to it."The bigger risk for ourselves is that people continue to use unsecure passwords," an ICO spokesman added.Password problemsThe site in question lists the feeds both by country and by device manufacturer.The kit has not been "hacked", rather software and search tools have been used to scan the net for feeds that can be accessed using the cameras' default settings.China-based Foscam was the most commonly listed brand, followed by Linksys and then Panasonic."We are still trying to determine which Linksys IP cameras are referenced on the site," said a spokeswoman from the US firm."We believe they are older Linksys IP cameras which are no longer being manufactured.Bakudaily.Az