KYW Philadelphia consumer report.
Consumer Alert Investigation: Drive-By Spy
Nov 1, 2002 5:00 pm US/Eastern
PHILADELPHIA (KYW) The little cameras you can buy on the Internet
may be great for security or to keep track of your family, but
they could be giving a stranger a peek at your private life. Consumer
Specialist Paul Moriarty explains.
Ads for wireless home security cameras are popping
up everywhere and folks are snatching them up in an effort to
keep an eye on their little ones and their home.
They are easy to install too. All you have to
do, for instance, is place a camera above the crib and watch as
your child sleeps peacefully from the next room.
However, Moriarty says there is a problem.
The cameras works like a small television station
broadcasting your pictures into the airwaves in and around your
neighborhood. That means you aren't the only one who can access
it.
With a small television monitor, receiver, and
a special antenna available on the Internet strangers passing
through can pick up signals from your home security camera and
see inside your house.
Eyewitness News spent several days driving through
neighborhoods in South Jersey and Center City and easily picked
up signals from home security cameras.
On one occasion, a signal was picked up portraying
a baby sleeping in a cradle.
The faces of the children and concerned parents
were obscured to protect their privacy but the moms Moriarty talked
to were troubled to the point that many immediately disconnected
their wireless cameras.
During another trip, a Philadelphia man was overwhelmed
when shown images KYW-TV captured from his at-home camera: "Unbelievable!
That's a good story and it's good news. I'm very concerned and
I appreciate it...thank you."
Homes aren’t the only places wireless security
cameras are used. Businesses are also using them.
Don Magri was more than surprised to learn that
strangers could look inside his South Jersey auto body shop without
his knowledge.
"Unbelievable. You probably know where I
can keep my money. You can probably know where I keep personal
items...just from driving by," he told Moriarty.
In no time, his camera was tossed in the trash
too.
If you think bad guys aren't using this same equipment
to spy on you, you're wrong.
Guy Lewis of the United States Justice Department:
"Federal authorities see more and more criminals using this
sophisticated equipment…equipment that can intercept video...equipment
that can intercept audio and using that for illegal purposes."
It should be noted that intercepting those video
signals is not against the law.
