Hackers Invading Home Surveillance Devices

Computer hackers have put Oklahoma in the middle of an international cyber-attack. Warnings are now being sent out to protect your home cameras because these hackers are capable of accessing just about every possible home monitoring device.

Over 5,400 cameras in the US alone have been hacked by just the guess of a password. Now, complete strangers can watch you and family through your own webcam, security cameras and even a baby monitor.

"It's not surprising, it's just a matter of time," said Chris Stogsdill with The Three Geeks computer store.

While the tech savvy might have seen it coming, others describe this full-access viewing differently.

"There's nothing stopping them," said Stogsdill.

"Creepy, that's creepy to me," said parent of two, Jeremy Rollins.

"Wrong, just wrong," said parent Ginna Willard.

Both parents, Willard and Rollins also call it an invasion of privacy now that anyone can watch someone else's baby sleep in a crib in France, view a home office in Japan and even watch the front door of a home in Oklahoma City; all through live home feeds posted by hackers on a Russian website.

"I just can't imagine your privacy being invaded like that," said Willard.

But that privacy can be and Stogsdill says it's surprisingly simple.

"It's just them using the default user name and password already on the device," said Stogsdill.

That's right. No high-tech software or virus so there is a simple fix; change the password of any device you access through the internet.

"It's more of a scare tactic to let you know what can be done," said Stogsdill.

Malicious intent or not, these parents still don't consider this global hack justified.

"I don't know if it's still better than them hacking into your bank account but it's still private," said Rollins.

Some tips for an effective password: Use upper and lowercase letters along with numbers. It doesn't have to be complex, just not obvious.

This is illegal. But if someone were to do this just in Oklahoma, they could face felony charges under the state's Computer Crimes Act as well as several other misdemeanor and felony charges.