Cyber crooks may hack CCTV network, says surveillance chief

THE growing CCTV network could be a target for hacking attacks, a security watchdog has warned.

Tony Porter, the surveillance camera commissioner, flagged up the possible risk of intrusion on the public by “individual and state actors”.

He pointed to a major cyber incident in Washington DC in January last year where more than 100 cameras were infected with ransomware.

Mr Porter said: “The risk for intrusion on citizens has significantly increased both by lawful operators of surveillance camera systems and those individual or state actors who seek to hack into systems. Cyber security is at the top of the security agenda.”

Publishing his report for 2016-17, Mr Porter said: “If your camera is not suitably protected, you are potentially opening up a back door for organisations that choose to hack.”

There are between four million and 5.9million CCTV cameras in the UK, the British Security Industry Association estimated in 2013.