Are there security questions about wifi cameras?
 

I am about to renovate a barn, which is next to a public lane, into a
garage. Swallows have always nested in it and I intend to build them a
large enclosure inside with a new dedicated entrance. I would also like
to fit a camera so we can watch them. It would be wifi connected to a
wireless access point in the house about 20 metres away. The AP is WPA
protected so, as far as I can see, the new camera will not provide any
route for people to hack into my network. Is this so, or have I
overlooked something that could be a threat? Experts please advise and
it might help the earlier poster about cameras on farms.

Peter Scott

Are there security questions about wifi cameras?
 

Peter Scott ) wibbled on Monday 10 January 2011
16:40:

I am about to renovate a barn, which is next to a public lane, into a
garage. Swallows have always nested in it and I intend to build them a
large enclosure inside with a new dedicated entrance. I would also like
to fit a camera so we can watch them. It would be wifi connected to a
wireless access point in the house about 20 metres away. The AP is WPA
protected so, as far as I can see, the new camera will not provide any
route for people to hack into my network. Is this so, or have I
overlooked something that could be a threat? Experts please advise and
it might help the earlier poster about cameras on farms.

Peter Scott

If you already have an AP, the presence of the camera will make no
difference - it is the AP that is potentially vulnerable.

As to the AP, WPA is pretty good. Not bombproof (nothing is) so if you are
deeply worried, change the passphrase from time to time.

Risk analysis is key. If you are in the middle of nowhere, an unsecured AP
may be secure enough. If you are in an urban area, expect people (especially
a neighbour) to "have a go".

You might get a casual wardriver down the lane, but if the lane is quiet and
mostly farmers and old folk (no offence to anyone) your risk is small.

--
Tim Watts

Are there security questions about wifi cameras?
 

Peter Scott wrote:
I am about to renovate a barn, which is next to a public lane, into a
garage. Swallows have always nested in it and I intend to build them a
large enclosure inside with a new dedicated entrance. I would also like
to fit a camera so we can watch them. It would be wifi connected to a
wireless access point in the house about 20 metres away. The AP is WPA
protected so, as far as I can see, the new camera will not provide any
route for people to hack into my network. Is this so, or have I
overlooked something that could be a threat? Experts please advise and
it might help the earlier poster about cameras on farms.

Peter Scott
WPA can be defeated by a determined attack but is still quite hardwork.

You should be able to decrease the probability of success by configuring
your router/AP to only accept communications from specific devices.
These are identified by their MAC address and are unique.

Have a look at the setup instructions for your Router/AP for something
called MAC address filtering which is in addition to and on top of WPA
encryption.

HTH

Bob

Are there security questions about wifi cameras?
 

On 10/01/2011 17:11, Bob Minchin wrote:
Peter Scott wrote:
I am about to renovate a barn, which is next to a public lane, into a
garage. Swallows have always nested in it and I intend to build them a
large enclosure inside with a new dedicated entrance. I would also like
to fit a camera so we can watch them. It would be wifi connected to a
wireless access point in the house about 20 metres away. The AP is WPA
protected so, as far as I can see, the new camera will not provide any
route for people to hack into my network. Is this so, or have I
overlooked something that could be a threat? Experts please advise and
it might help the earlier poster about cameras on farms.

Peter Scott
WPA can be defeated by a determined attack but is still quite hardwork.

You should be able to decrease the probability of success by configuring
your router/AP to only accept communications from specific devices.
These are identified by their MAC address and are unique.

Have a look at the setup instructions for your Router/AP for something
called MAC address filtering which is in addition to and on top of WPA
encryption.

HTH

Bob

I'll certainly look at the MAC filtering. Thanks

Peter Scott

Are there security questions about wifi cameras?
 

On Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:33:01 +0000, Peter Scott wrote:

These are identified by their MAC address and are unique.

I'll certainly look at the MAC filtering. Thanks

MAC filtering is another hoop for a hacker to jump through but there
are devices out there that can spoof their MAC address.

--
Cheers
Dave.

Are there security questions about wifi cameras?
 

Dave Liquorice ) wibbled on Monday 10 January
2011 22:34:

On Mon, 10 Jan 2011 17:33:01 +0000, Peter Scott wrote:

These are identified by their MAC address and are unique.

I'll certainly look at the MAC filtering. Thanks

MAC filtering is another hoop for a hacker to jump through but there
are devices out there that can spoof their MAC address.


Pretty much any laptop (running linux at least)...

--
Tim Watts

Are there security questions about wifi cameras?
 

On 10/01/2011 17:11, Bob Minchin wrote:

Have a look at the setup instructions for your Router/AP for something
called MAC address filtering which is in addition to and on top of WPA
encryption.

ISTR from when this came up here before, MAC address filtering was
rubbished not only as trivial to circumvent (certainly compared with WPA
encryption), but could also potentially be a *bad* thing. Can't think
why - did I dream that one? ;)

David

Are there security questions about wifi cameras?
 

On 11/01/2011 09:22, John Rumm wrote:
On 11/01/2011 07:50, Lobster wrote:
On 10/01/2011 17:11, Bob Minchin wrote:

Have a look at the setup instructions for your Router/AP for something
called MAC address filtering which is in addition to and on top of WPA
encryption.

ISTR from when this came up here before, MAC address filtering was
rubbished not only as trivial to circumvent (certainly compared with WPA
encryption), but could also potentially be a *bad* thing. Can't think
why - did I dream that one? ;)

It can be a PITA when you forget you have it turned on and two years
down the line you are wondering why some new widget does not want to
talk, even though superficially everything should be ok. DAMHIK!

In an environment where clients come and go, its trivial to sniff a
valid MAC and then use it once you see the address go inactive. Where
there is one "always on" client like a video camera, its going to be a
bit more obvious if you do attempt to introduce another device with the
same MAC.


The last point is a strong one. The camera will always be on, at least
during spring and summer. The message I get is the camera in itself is
not a serious additional risk, except in the sense of advertising a wifi
network.

Thanks to all

Peter Scott

Are there security questions about wifi cameras?
 

Peter Scott wrote:
On 11/01/2011 09:22, John Rumm wrote:
On 11/01/2011 07:50, Lobster wrote:
On 10/01/2011 17:11, Bob Minchin wrote:

Have a look at the setup instructions for your Router/AP for something
called MAC address filtering which is in addition to and on top of WPA
encryption.

ISTR from when this came up here before, MAC address filtering was
rubbished not only as trivial to circumvent (certainly compared with WPA
encryption), but could also potentially be a *bad* thing. Can't think
why - did I dream that one? ;)

It can be a PITA when you forget you have it turned on and two years
down the line you are wondering why some new widget does not want to
talk, even though superficially everything should be ok. DAMHIK!

In an environment where clients come and go, its trivial to sniff a
valid MAC and then use it once you see the address go inactive. Where
there is one "always on" client like a video camera, its going to be a
bit more obvious if you do attempt to introduce another device with the
same MAC.


The last point is a strong one. The camera will always be on, at least
during spring and summer. The message I get is the camera in itself is
not a serious additional risk, except in the sense of advertising a wifi
network.

To cut the risk even further, if the image comes up on a web page type
interface, password protect that page.

--
Tciao for Now!

John.