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Detect and disconnect WiFi cameras

julianoliver.com

11–20 of 138 posts

Re: Detect and disconnect WiFi cameras

#11

One easier way to detect (without jamming afterwards), for iOS at least, is to install the "Fing" app, connect to the wifi and scan the network. Then you will know the connected devices and their names. Chances are that cameras will have easy to recognize names on them. EDIT: you'll get the MAC address too, so you can compare if they match camera companies.

For those who don't own an iOS device, or don't feel it is the best tool to do this kind of analysis: The standard tool on OS X or Linux appears to be Kismet[1], which, while I haven't actually used it and so can't vouch for it firsthand, appears to be quite capable. I don't know what, if any, equivalent tool exists for Windows, and since I don't own a Windows laptop, I also don't really care.

Edit: Having now installed Fing and looked at what it does, it seems to basically just look at its assigned IP and netmask to determine the address space of the local network, and then perform an nmap-style ping scan to see what doesn't time out. When it gets a packet back, it uses the MAC address to identify the type of device, and a PTR lookup with the DHCP-provided DNS server to obtain a hostname. These are pretty cool capabilities to have on a handheld device, of course, but if you can't or won't install Fing, you can do pretty much everything it does with a 15-line Perl script on any device that can connect to the wireless network.

[1] http://www.kismetwireless.net/

Re: Detect and disconnect WiFi cameras

#13
post #11

One easier way to detect (without jamming afterwards), for iOS at least, is to install the "Fing" app, connect to the wifi and scan the network. Then you will know the connected devices and their names. Chances are that cameras will have easy to recognize names on them. EDIT: you'll get the MAC address too, so you can compare if they match camera companies.

For those who don't own an iOS device, or don't feel it is the best tool to do this kind of analysis: The standard tool on OS X or Linux appears to be Kismet[1], which, while I haven't actually used it and so can't vouch for it firsthand, appears to be quite capable. I don't know what, if any, equivalent tool exists for Windows, and since I don't own a Windows laptop, I also don't really care. Edit: Having now instal…

In the past I used inSSIDer to view nearby networks, checking to see how capable it is led here:

https://www.reddit.com/r/networking/comments/3fyjbm/now_that...

Which points to (pdf):

http://www.xirrus.com/cdn/pdf/Xirrus-Wi-Fi-inspectorguide-1-...

Re: Detect and disconnect WiFi cameras

#14

And don't forget to report those cameras to the authorities, since in many countries it is completely illegal to film people without their consent (in private places).

In the US is legal to monitor babysitters / house cleaners with hidden cameras. Just don't record bathrooms etc.

Re: Detect and disconnect WiFi cameras

#15
Cool but some questions on the command line args:

Call be dumb but I have no idea what my wireless NIC is called and that's the first arg to the script.

How do I find out the handle for my wireless network card (I didn't even know it had a name), but also does anyone know why the script can't self detect that? Don't most people only have one?

Ditto for the SSID, couldn't the script just figure out what SSID I'm connected to?

Asking as much for self education as anything else...

Re: Detect and disconnect WiFi cameras

#16
That disclaimer bugs me. Just admit you don't know what the fuck you're talking about and to consult a lawyer before using on equipment the user doesn't own and control. Instead it misleads the uninformed, and shows the slightly-informed you skimmed half a news article once.

Re: Detect and disconnect WiFi cameras

#17
post #15

Cool but some questions on the command line args: Call be dumb but I have no idea what my wireless NIC is called and that's the first arg to the script. How do I find out the handle for my wireless network card (I didn't even know it had a name), but also does anyone know why the script can't self detect that? Don't most people only have one? Ditto for the SSID, couldn't the script just figure out what SSID I'm conne…

On Linux, run ifconfig as root. The problem is that there's no naming convention for NIC names. Some systems use ethX for both wired and wireless systems, some ethX/wlanX, and some use wlx-(macaddress) unique name.

Re: Detect and disconnect WiFi cameras

#18
post #15

Cool but some questions on the command line args: Call be dumb but I have no idea what my wireless NIC is called and that's the first arg to the script. How do I find out the handle for my wireless network card (I didn't even know it had a name), but also does anyone know why the script can't self detect that? Don't most people only have one? Ditto for the SSID, couldn't the script just figure out what SSID I'm conne…

You can see your wireless card's name in the network management widget details' dialog/pane, or simply run 'iwconfig' in a terminal.

The script could automate the discovery of both information but that would make it larger and much more error prone.

Your comment is nice, it shows how Linux Desktop nowadays is so easy to use, one does not have to worry about technical details.

Re: Detect and disconnect WiFi cameras

#19
post #14

And don't forget to report those cameras to the authorities, since in many countries it is completely illegal to film people without their consent (in private places).

In the US is legal to monitor babysitters / house cleaners with hidden cameras. Just don't record bathrooms etc.

The US is obviously a very fucked up place.

Re: Detect and disconnect WiFi cameras

#20
post #14

And don't forget to report those cameras to the authorities, since in many countries it is completely illegal to film people without their consent (in private places).

In the US is legal to monitor babysitters / house cleaners with hidden cameras. Just don't record bathrooms etc.

What about house guests in bedrooms where they ought to have a reasonable expectation of privacy?
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