Protecting Privacy: My Experience with a Public Webcam Stream in a Child’s Bedroom

Recently, I stumbled upon a troubling situation while browsing Shodan, an IoT search engine known for revealing potential security vulnerabilities. While exploring, I discovered a public webcam broadcasting a live feed from a child’s bedroom. This alarming issue sparked my concern as a parent, prompting immediate action.

Reaching Out to the ISP

The webcam’s IP address indicated it was associated with Rogers, a Canadian internet service provider. Driven by the belief that the owners of the webcam were likely unaware of their stream being publicly accessible, I decided to contact Rogers support for assistance.

My first point of contact was the first-level support team, who quickly referred me to a supervisor after I explained the situation. During the half an hour that followed, I detailed my concerns about the implications of a child’s private space being streamed online. Unfortunately, despite my efforts, the support staff’s response was frustratingly unhelpful. They directed me to either the authorities in Austria or the Canadian authorities, rather than taking direct action themselves.

Seeking Help from Authorities

Feeling let down by the ISP’s response, I escalated the matter further. I was fortunate to receive feedback from Rogers later, stating that the subject of the webcam stream had been escalated, and they would be contacting the owner. Additionally, I took it upon myself to reach out to other entities, including the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada and the Canadian Centre for cyber security.

Despite my attempts to get in touch with Canadian authorities through the contact number provided on Rogers’ website, my efforts were met with challenges. I recognized that this situation was not a direct emergency, so I planned to follow up with these authorities for further updates.

Update: A Positive Turn of Events

On January 26, I received some good news! The owner of the webcam had been contacted and took the necessary steps to secure the feed by setting a password. This was a significant relief, knowing that a potentially dangerous situation regarding online privacy and safety had been addressed.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone in the community who supported me during this process. The solidarity and advice offered were invaluable as I navigated this unsettling scenario.

Conclusion

This entire experience has been a crucial reminder of the importance of safeguarding our privacy, particularly for vulnerable individuals like children. It’s also an eye-opener about how not all service providers may prioritize these serious concerns. If you encounter