Parents of a two-year-old who became the target of verbal abuse after her baby monitor was hacked had not changed its password from the default setting, it is claimed.
The manufacturers of the camera, used mainly as a baby monitor, came under fire for the allegedly weak security of the device after ABC reported on Texas couple Marc and Lauren Gilbert, who were shocked to hear a voice shouting obscenities at their daughter Allyson from the camera.
ABC reported the couple were shocked to hear a "British or European accent" coming from the device, which directed offensive, sexualised words at the toddler, who is deaf – something Mr Gilbert called "something of a blessing" in the circumstances.
Foscam updated its website with security advice for the camera following the incident, which comes after security firm Qualys discovered ways to break into the camera’s remote monitoring access in April.
But now Foscam maintains the device is safe, and blamed the parents, saying they had not changing the default password.
A member of the support team told CBR: "As far as i [sic] am aware, customer never setup [sic] a password for either router or camera and left them on default login, anyone with just a little experience could have logged in to his devices, [sic] Hardly considered hacking if you ask me.
"Most of us working here are parents and can understand other parents concerns and we assure you these cameras are secure!"
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However, one forum user on Foscam’s website claimed a hacker had gained access to their device without a router or WiFi password.
Jessicaj8521 posted yesterday: "Our camera was hacked this weekend and someone was viewing, controlling the camera and talking to my young children though the camera.
"They did not get into our router or wi-fi they were able to hack into the web software online that you use to view the camera or contorl [sic] the camera. BE CAREFUL this is not an idea[l] security solution."
