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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 9 months ago by L4s@lemmy.world 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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[–] Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 36 points 9 months 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.

[–] NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip 6 points 9 months ago (1 children)

"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".

[–] Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

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...

[–] NuXCOM_90Percent@lemmy.zip 3 points 9 months ago

Yes. There are many issues with cloud based providers for stuff like this.

Someone using a wifi jammer to take out your wireless cameras has nothing to do with that.

[–] lauha@lemmy.one 3 points 9 months ago (2 children)

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

[–] Darkassassin07@lemmy.ca 12 points 9 months ago (1 children)

If it's got local storage, it's not 'cloud based'.

I'm not saying offsite backups of your local storage are a bad idea.

[–] lauha@lemmy.one 1 points 9 months ago

I didn't say storage. I called it a buffer. No permanent local storage needed

[–] Venator@lemmy.nz 6 points 9 months ago (2 children)

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

[–] LufyCZ@lemmy.world 11 points 9 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] ada@lemmy.blahaj.zone 1 points 9 months ago (1 children)

Until the cameras are destroyed, which is easier to do when they're not streaming in real time

[–] 1rre@discuss.tchncs.de 1 points 9 months ago

Why not both?

Mains power with battery backup, live streaming via wires with wifi then flash storage backup

[–] lauha@lemmy.one 2 points 9 months ago (1 children)

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.

[–] Venator@lemmy.nz 1 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Unless they steal the router...

[–] lauha@lemmy.one 1 points 8 months ago

You can still just restore the network and wait for the camera to sync. Feed not lost unless too long time has gone by and buffer has wrapped around