"Russia Spies on Kyiv Defenses via Hacked Cameras Before Missile Strikes"

The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has recently revealed that Russian intelligence hacked online surveillance cameras to spy on air defense activities and critical infrastructure in Kyiv ahead of recent missile strikes.  The SSU noted that the Kremlin was able to remotely control two residential cameras, which it used to collect information to target critical infrastructure in Ukraine’s capital Kyiv.  This likely includes the large-scale missile attack that took place on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, in which Russia fired around 100 drones and missiles against Kyiv and Kharkiv.  One of the webcams was located on a balcony of a residential building, which locals used to monitor the surrounding area.  The SSU noted that after Russian hackers gained remote access to control the camera, Kremlin intelligence tampered with the settings to change the viewing angle and connect the stream to YouTube.  This enabled them to record all visual information within the camera’s range.  The second online camera was located at a separate residential building in Kyiv, which was used by residents to monitor the adjacent car park.  The SSU said that Russia remotely controlled this webcam to covertly record the view of the surrounding area, including critical infrastructure facilities.  The cameras were dismantled once the SSU had identified these locations.  The SSU has urged Ukrainian citizens who own surveillance cameras to stop online broadcasts from their devices and to report any detected streams on platforms like YouTube to authorities.

Infosecurity reports: "Russia Spies on Kyiv Defenses via Hacked Cameras Before Missile Strikes"