Community Stories
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Tips to Protect your Videoconferencing Unit from HackersSioux Lookout - Ontario
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Submitted by Lyle Johnson, KO-KNET
Recently, some news articles have come out around the safety and security of VideoConferencing Systems. See for example these stories:
- Most Video Conferencing Systems Are Vulnerable to Hackers on Mashable
- Cameras May Open Up the Board Room to Hackers from the New York Times
In my opinion, it looks like a couple of IT consultants are looking to make themselves more money by scaring people into having them look after their video conferencing equipment. And no doubt for a price, they will come in and look after it for you !
Here are some tips to make sure your VC Unit is set up to try and address potential threats from hackers:
- When the equipment is set up there are http access passwords that control access over the internet to the equipment via it's web interface
- You may also choose to install the unit behind your corporate firewalls ( That is of course provided that your network admin or consultant will work with you to ensure that the equipment will work properly in that environment )
- When the unit is configured there is an option to "automatically answer" incoming calls.. OR NOT !
- There is also an option to mute auto answered calls so that if you do choose to allow auto answer, people will not be able to listen in.
- As far as the when the unit is in a call, a user may choose to have encryption on the call to prevent access to calls in progress.
In my humble opinion, users have enough options to secure or not secure their video unit, depending on how the unit is used for their own purposes.
The larger security issue in the corporate settings discussed in this issue is not the " souped up skype equipment ".
The real issue is leaving documents lying around where prying eyes would be able to see them, whether it be via video conferencing equipment or by live eyes...
For more information on VideoConferencing tips and tricks, feel free to email me.