Security cameras were designed to protect homes, businesses, and streets. But in today’s conflicts, they are becoming unexpected tools of war.
Military forces and hackers linked to governments are targeting internet-connected security cameras. These devices can provide live footage from cities, roads, and strategic locations. When hacked, they allow attackers to watch potential targets and monitor the results of military strikes.
Cybersecurity researchers now say that hacking these cameras is becoming a common tactic in modern warfare.
A new report from cybersecurity firm Check Point has revealed hundreds of attempts to hack security cameras across the Middle East.
The research suggests that many of these attempts were linked to Iranian hackers and happened around the time of recent missile and drone attacks. The attacks targeted consumer security cameras installed outside homes, on buildings, and along streets.
Researchers believe the hackers were trying to gain access to the video feeds to monitor military targets and assess damage after strikes.
Sergey Shykevich, who leads threat intelligence research at Check Point, says the tactic is becoming increasingly common. “Now hacking cameras has become part of the playbook of military activity,” Shykevich says.
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He says the method offers an easy, cost-effective way to monitor targets. “You get direct visibility without using expensive military systems such as satellites,” he adds. “Often, the camera images have better resolution.”
According to the research, hackers attempted to exploit weaknesses in security cameras from two major manufacturers, Hikvision and Dahua. These companies produce millions of cameras used worldwide.
Check Point found attempts to exploit five different vulnerabilities in these devices. If successful, the hackers could have taken full control of the cameras.
The hacking attempts targeted devices in several countries across the Middle East. These included Bahrain, Cyprus, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates.
Researchers also detected hundreds of attempts inside Israel.
Check Point says the activity appears to be linked to three hacking groups believed to be connected to Iran.
Some of the servers used in the attacks have previously been tied to a hacker group called Handala. Several cybersecurity firms have linked this group to Iran’s intelligence services.
The hacking activity was not random. Many attempts happened on February 28 and March 1, 2026. These were the same days when the US and Israel launched major strikes on Iranian targets.
Some hacking attempts also appeared in mid-January, when protests were spreading inside Iran and tensions in the region were rising.
Check Point believes the hackers may have been trying to monitor targets before or after military strikes. Although the company blocked hacking attempts targeting its networks using its security tools, it warns that the true scale of the campaign may be larger.
This is because the company can only monitor devices connected to its own systems.
Security Flaws Make Cameras Easy Targets
One major reason these cameras are vulnerable is outdated software. Shykevich says the vulnerabilities used in the attacks are not new. “None of these vulnerabilities are complicated or sophisticated,” he says.
In fact, some of the security flaws were discovered years ago. One of them dates back to 2017.
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Manufacturers released software updates to fix the problems long ago. But many camera owners never install these updates. As a result, millions of devices remain vulnerable to hackers.
Security experts say this problem affects many internet-connected devices, collectively known as the “Internet of Things.” These include cameras, smart doorbells, routers, and home automation systems.
Iran is not the only country using hacked cameras during conflicts. Reports suggest that Israel has also used similar techniques.
According to the Financial Times, Israeli intelligence gained access to traffic camera systems in Tehran. The report says the data helped track movements around Iran’s leadership.
Sources told the newspaper that camera footage helped analyze daily patterns of security guards protecting Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
This information was reportedly used to plan the airstrike that killed him.
One intelligence source described the level of access in striking terms.
“We knew Tehran like we know Jerusalem,” the source said.
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The use of hacked cameras in warfare was also seen during the war between Russia and Ukraine.
Ukrainian officials have repeatedly warned that Russian forces hacked security cameras to monitor military activity. In January 2024, Ukraine’s security service reported that Russian hackers had taken control of two cameras in Kyiv.
Officials said the devices were used to observe military infrastructure and air defense systems.
“The aggressor used these cameras to collect data to prepare and adjust strikes on Kyiv,” Ukraine’s intelligence service said. In response, Ukrainian authorities took drastic measures.
They disabled thousands of internet-connected cameras that could be exploited by enemy forces. Officials also asked citizens to stop broadcasting live webcam streams.
At the same time, Ukraine has reportedly used similar tactics against Russian forces. Ukrainian hackers have accessed surveillance cameras in Russian-controlled areas to monitor troop movements.
Some reports suggest that these hacked cameras were used to observe military equipment traveling across the Kerch Bridge between Russia and Crimea.
In another case, video footage released after a Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian submarine appeared to come from a surveillance camera.
This showed how valuable these devices can be for monitoring targets.
Why Security Cameras Are Attractive Targets
Military analysts say hacked cameras offer several advantages. They provide real-time video from locations that might otherwise be difficult to observe. Unlike satellites or drones, these cameras are already installed across cities and towns.
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Peter W. Singer, a researcher at the New America Foundation who studies military technology, says the approach is simple and effective.
“The adversary has already done the work for you,” Singer says. “They have placed cameras all around the city.”
He says these devices provide a constant presence at ground level.
That makes them useful for reconnaissance, targeting, and post-attack damage assessment. Satellites and drones can also gather information, but they are expensive and easier to detect. Hacked cameras can operate quietly and continuously.
A Growing Security Problem
Experts say the widespread use of internet-connected cameras has created a major security challenge. Millions of these devices are installed worldwide, often with weak protection.
Beau Woods, a cybersecurity researcher who previously advised the US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, says the issue is complicated.
He says the people who control the cameras are not usually the ones affected by the attacks. “The manufacturer of the device and the owner of the device are not the victim,” Woods says.
“The victim is someone else.”
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This makes it difficult to assign responsibility or enforce better security practices.
The use of hacked cameras in warfare will continue to grow. As conflicts become increasingly technology-driven, militaries are seeking new ways to gather intelligence.
Consumer technology often provides easy opportunities. Millions of devices already exist. Many are poorly secured. And they can provide valuable information. For military planners, that makes them attractive targets.
Woods says the problem raises important questions about accountability. “Who is liable, who is responsible, who is accountable?” he asks.
He says the cameras themselves do not cause the attack.
But they still play an important role in the chain of events that leads to it. “The camera itself is not directly causing the harm,” Woods says. “But it is part of the kill chain.”
