It has never been easier (and cheaper) to be able to see what's happening in and around your home from anywhere on the planet. Cheap IP cameras allow you to keep an eye on your loved ones from afar, but it may also be an open window for anyone else to do the same.
This insecam website is a very worrying reminder that, just because anyone can setup a IP camera at home, that may not be enough. The site lists over 70,000 cameras around the world that are easily accessible by anyone. Sure, some of them are meant for public access... but many are not. It won't take you long to see people's living rooms, children bedrooms, garages, backyards, etc.
The thing is, some people simply have no clue about the risks of leaving a camera accessible to the world. All these cameras belong to people that didn't even change the default username and password, meaning a simple script can crawl the internet in search for cameras and then try out the default one... and gain a private "big brother" channel into your home.
If you're reading this, my guess is that you're already aware of these basic security principles and wouldn't be caught in something like this. But if you have friends that like to tinker with things even though they might not be aware of what they're getting into, you better let them know about it. You can also check the insecam site for cameras in your area, and alert them if you can.
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