Feb 25, 2015

Security systems are in place to help keep people safe. Wireless surveillance networks especially are powerful ways to ensure that those walking in open areas go without harm, not to mention help to fight break-ins on private property. These systems are strong forms of protection, certainly, but what is protecting them?

More than anything, wireless surveillance networks have to be safeguarded in ways that will keep them from being compromised from a wide variety of threats. Not only is it essential to keep the physical hardware protected from tampering, but it’s also important to make sure malicious hackers aren’t commandeering cameras for their own personal gains.

Growing market underscores security needs
Wireless surveillance is gaining in popularity. According to an RNCOS report from November 2014, the global market for CCTV systems will grow by 12 percent annually through 2020. This signifies an increasing need for wireless surveillance – not to mention a mounting number of opportunities for hacking.

Wireless security networks are prime targets for criminals, regardless of who they belong to. According to Tom’s Guide contributor Paul Wagenseil, researchers have noted that “municipal wireless networks used by American police forces to link surveillance cameras and public loudspeakers may be easily hacked into.” Much of this may have to do with poor security practices on the parts of the organizations that use them. Connecting things like cameras and loudspeakers to an open network marked “Police Department” is a sure-fire way to allow for a breach to occur.

“In addition to inserting bogus video feeds, which might include an ‘Ocean’s 11′-style ‘all is well’ loop to disguise criminal activity, a malicious actor could render the system unusable by flooding the network with bogus traffic or jamming the wireless transmitters in part or all of the network,” Wagenseil wrote.

Protecting the protectors
Wireless security is a serious issue, but one that unfortunately goes under-recognized by the people that need it. There are a number of different things connected to a network that need to be protected. While data centers may be the most obvious answer here, there are several other items – like cameras – that have to be secured as well.

There are plenty of things that can be hacked these days, and cameras are definitely one of them. A secure wireless surveillance system starts with help from Firetide, as our networks are strong and support end-to-end security.