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03/29/2024 11:43:49 am

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Russian Hackers Intercept Home Webcams In U.K.

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Russian hackers have managed to intercept up to 600 webcams in the U.K. and have started streaming the live action on dedicated website.

Russian hackers have managed to intercept up to 600 webcams in the UK by using the default password set on computers to take over the systems.

U.K. privacy regulators revealed the issue earlier today after over a month of hacking done by the Russians, who remain at large, with their own website dedicated to live streaming the webcams.

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The hacks include bedroom webcams, security webcams set up in shops and webcams on mobile devices, like a laptop. This wide range of webcams has lead the Information Commissioner's Office to believe this is simply due to users not changing passwords.

Default passwords are always unsafe, no matter the application or service. Users should always update their password and make sure it is not a simple word, mixing the password up with numbers and symbols.

Christopher Graham, the Information Commissioner for the U.K., said "I'm very concerned about what this shows and I want the Russians to take this down straight away. We now want to take very prompt action working with the Federal Trade Commission in the States to get this thing closed down."

The hacking group - based in Russia - claims the attacks are made to inform security services on issues in the system. Even if this is the case, Graham argues "OK you've made the point, but you're streaming live action from nearly 600 web cameras in the U.K."

Russian-based hackers are becoming more of a problem with the limited security in Russia, when it comes to other countries getting hacked. JP Morgan Chase lost over 80 million details in a Russian-based attack earlier this year.

The Russian government has not responded to complaints about the number of hacking groups, based inside the country.  

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