Show home CCTV cams the red light
HOME security cameras are supposed to bring peace of mind – but they can cause a giant headache.
These cameras are becoming more popular, and smarter, allowing you to keep an eye on your home from your phone, even when you are away on holiday.
One reader, Adam, installed one in his hallway that connected to an app on his iphone.
His daughter kept telling him that a red light kept illuminating on the device but Adam did not think anything of it.
But around six months after installing it, he received a very threatening letter.
It stated his camera had been hacked and they had footage of his wife – naked.
The letter went on to threaten to release the footage online unless Adam made a payment of £5,000 worth of Bitcoins.
Adam, from Southampton, did the right thing and reported the matter to the police.
After an investigation, it transpired that when the red light was on, it meant someone was online viewing it. Apparently it was fairly easy to hack into.
They also discovered that if you placed post on a certain shelf in the hallway, which Adam did from time to time, it was possible to see the address on the letters.
Adam has since disconnected the camera and will only reconnect it when he can be assured the system cannot be hacked.
Another reader, Keith, installed CCTV on the side of his house. He then got a letter from the council telling him he should remove it or “point it towards the floor”.
Breach
It said the camera was filming the road and public footpath in front of his house in Sunderland. And that was illegal, it claimed.
The actual legal position is that pointing a security camera at a public highway – or at your neighbour’s property – could amount to a breach of the Data Protection Act.
And, in the case of your neighbour’s property, it could also land you in hot water under harassment laws.
It used to be considered that there were exceptions for home security. But this concept was chucked out by the EU courts back in 2015.
See more advice from Dean on theconsumerlawyer.blog.