.:Computer Defense:.

So I'm reading the paper today, the business section of the Toronto Star (view it), and I read a review and discussion of Video-based baby monitors (view it). Now I'm not a parent, but I'm guessing that parents are loving this concept. Instead of hearing your baby and running every time they make a noise you can go only when you see a real problem... I can see where this is going to... Now we have very basic ones (view it)... similar to the X10 Wireless Cameras that many businesses are installing (in fact X10 makes one of these video baby monitors -- view it). So in the future we'll have transmitters that connect to your wireless router, they transmit the images so that you can watch on the corner of your monitor... or perhaps a dongle that connects to your TV so that while you're watching TV with your spouse you can also keep an eye on the kid right in the picture-in-picture... Even now at least they transmit to a portable device you can carry... While I can see this as a great child safety device, I wonder if perhaps it's not also putting the child (or your home) at risk... We've all seen how easy it is for anyone to watch Wireless Camera broadcasts (check out the first episode of Systm for more details -- view it).

So now, that pedophile who previously had to revert to watching children walk down the street can now watch your child in your own home... They know exactly where they are, and if you're with them or not (within a reasonable guess based on what they see). Now only are they seeing this, they are saving it... they're saving pictures of you with your child, your child playing, maybe changing or dressing your child... These cameras scare me... I don't see a new miracle in baby monitors... I see an invasion into my household privacy, I see a threat to myself and my (future) child.

As these devices grow more high tech perhaps security will be properly incorporated but my guess is that right now, they are being built fairly basically... We've all heard cordless phones and baby monitors, CBs and baby monitors, even TVs and baby monitors cross paths... so why not these... What makes them so different. What happens when someone finds out not only how to intercept these feeds but to disrupt them... to receive the feed and send your receiver a modified one. You see your child playing nicely so faily to regularly check up... suddenly your child is gone and you're receiving a falsified broadcast... Is your child's safety worth the convenience of not having to get up every 10 or 15 minutes.

Now I could be wrong, these could be very secure devices... I'd love to know the truth... I propose to examine them further and in detail. As soon as I have the funds available I will obtain 1 model, 2 models, maybe every model and test them and see how they work. If anyone is interested in contributing to this endevour (via donation of money or of a device... (hint: Vendors, this is a great way to demonstrate the security of your device)) I would greatly appreciate it.

As I find more on these or progress further with my research, I will keep you updated.

Peace,
HT