MOSCOW, November 20 (Sputnik) – A Russian-based website allows users to stream live video from various locations via insecure webcams and CCTV across the world, the UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) said Thursday.
"The website, which is based in Russia, accesses the information by using the default login credentials, which are freely available online, for thousands of cameras," the ICO's Technology Manager Simon Rice said in his official blog.
Rice stated that using default or weak passwords is one of the most common reasons for a data security breach. He also advised users to carefully read manuals for their camera systems prior to their use.
In an article published Wednesday, The Daily Mail said it had accessed the alleged spying website, claiming it offers access to live video of thousands of homes, pubs, gyms, offices, shops and even stables from across the United Kingdom.
According to the tabloid, the site not only offers live streams of what happens in people's homes, but also displays date, time, the building's post code and the exact location of the camera, which the newspaper said could be a "potential goldmine for burglars."
