DSLR Cameras Are Susceptible to Ransomware Attacks, New Research Finds

DSLR Cameras Are Susceptible to Ransomware Attacks, New Research Finds

Cameras could be high-priority targets because owners are more likely to pay to get their valuable photos back, researchers said.

  • By Haley Samsel
  • Aug 13, 2019

As ransomware scares continue to halt operations of major companies and large cities across the country, researchers have found yet another device that is vulnerable to hackers seeking payment to unlock systems: DSLR cameras.

Security researchers with Check Point Software Technologies were able to install harmful malware onto cameras if they were in close proximity to their WiFi networks or if they had already hijacked a computer through a USB drive. The report, issued on Sunday, notes that DSLR cameras are “embedded digital devices,” putting them at risk just like every other IoT device.

“Our research shows that any ‘smart’ device, in our case a DSLR camera, is susceptible to attacks,” the report reads. “The combination of price, sensitive contents, and wide-spread consumer audience makes cameras a lucrative target for attackers.”

Read more: IoT Security: Current Threats and How to Overcome Them

The team, led by researcher Eyal Itkin, demonstrated in a video how a hacker could encrypt images on a SD card and make them inaccessible to the camera’s owner through a WiFi network. Because cameras are “the guardians of our precious moments,” Itkin wrote, hackers know that the owner does not want to lose the photos and therefore is more likely to pay the ransom fee.

Canon was alerted to the vulnerability in their “picture transfer protocol” in March, and Check Point worked with the company to develop a security patch that was released last week, according to The Verge. The researchers noted that while they only worked with Canon, the protocol is “standardized” and embedded in other cameras sold by Canon’s competitors.

“Based on our results, we believe that similar vulnerabilities can be found in the PTP implementations of other vendors as well,” the report reads.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • New Report Reveals Top Trends Transforming Access Controller Technology

    Mercury Security, a provider in access control hardware and open platform solutions, has published its Trends in Access Controllers Report, based on a survey of over 450 security professionals across North America and Europe. The findings highlight the controller’s vital role in a physical access control system (PACS), where the device not only enforces access policies but also connects with readers to verify user credentials—ranging from ID badges to biometrics and mobile identities. With 72% of respondents identifying the controller as a critical or important factor in PACS design, the report underscores how the choice of controller platform has become a strategic decision for today’s security leaders. Read Now

  • Overwhelming Majority of CISOs Anticipate Surge in Cyber Attacks Over the Next Three Years

    An overwhelming 98% of chief information security officers (CISOs) expect a surge in cyber attacks over the next three years as organizations face an increasingly complex and artificial intelligence (AI)-driven digital threat landscape. This is according to new research conducted among 300 CISOs, chief information officers (CIOs), and senior IT professionals by CSC1, the leading provider of enterprise-class domain and domain name system (DNS) security. Read Now

  • ASIS International Introduces New ANSI-Approved Investigations Standard

    • Guard Services

  • Cloud Security Alliance Brings AI-Assisted Auditing to Cloud Computing

    The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world’s leading organization dedicated to defining standards, certifications, and best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today introduced an innovative addition to its suite of Security, Trust, Assurance and Risk (STAR) Registry assessments with the launch of Valid-AI-ted, an AI-powered, automated validation system. The new tool provides an automated quality check of assurance information of STAR Level 1 self-assessments using state-of-the-art LLM technology. Read Now

  • Report: Nearly 1 in 5 Healthcare Leaders Say Cyberattacks Have Impacted Patient Care

    Omega Systems, a provider of managed IT and security services, today released new research that reveals the growing impact of cybersecurity challenges on leading healthcare organizations and patient safety. According to the 2025 Healthcare IT Landscape Report, 19% of healthcare leaders say a cyberattack has already disrupted patient care, and more than half (52%) believe a fatal cyber-related incident is inevitable within the next five years. Read Now

Most   Popular

New Products

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles.