From Mashable · Chance Townsend · · 1m 20s
Hackers crack open Flock camera security
A hacker collective breached a Flock license plate reader and exposed flaws in the company's encryption claims.
In brief
A hacker collective breached a Flock license plate reader and exposed flaws in the company's encryption claims. Flock cameras contain unencrypted partitions with encryption keys that unlock footage, contradicting the company's security promises. Originally reported by Mashable.
Hackers breach Flock camera
A hacker collective called stegan0gram removed a Flock camera, copied its data, and shared findings with journalists at 404 Media and WIRED for investigation.
Encryption claims proven false
The breach found two unencrypted partitions on the camera's storage. One held vendor files, the other held media with an encryption key that unlocked most of the recorded footage.
What's inside the camera
The camera runs on midrange smartphone-level hardware and operates about 20 Flock-built apps handling motion detection, image classification, and remote updates.
License plate reading happens elsewhere
The camera itself doesn't read license plates or identify vehicle details. That processing happens later on Flock's servers after the device transmits photos.
Camera detected people, not just cars
The analysis confirmed the camera's software explicitly detects people in frame with confidence scores, a capability largely absent from public discussion of Flock devices.
Data feeds national searchable database
Flock routes camera data to a searchable national database accessible by thousands of agencies including police, universities, and airports, raising privacy concerns.
The main idea
Flock cameras contain unencrypted partitions with encryption keys that unlock footage, contradicting the company's security promises.
