Status: 06.02.2022 3:41 p.m
Table lamps with a microphone, smoke detectors with a camera: Some smart devices can secretly record conversations and videos. Experts warn against such unnoticed spies in the household, which are also a worthwhile target for hackers.
Some devices at home or at work do not show certain additional functions: There are smoke alarms with a built-in mini camera or a table lamp that, according to the seller’s product description, can listen in real time. Some pens and lighters can also film and make sound recordings. Such everyday devices not only fulfill their actual purpose, but also have questionable additional functions.
If you are not familiar with the devices, you may not even notice that a conversation can be recorded or the environment can be filmed. Fiete Wulff from the Federal Network Agency warns that this is problematic because spy devices are banned in Germany. “Spy devices are those devices that can make sound or image recordings of people, which then transmit them to another location via a radio connection – via a mobile phone connection, for example – and where it is not recognizable that sound and image recordings are taking place here”, explains Wulff.
Everyday objects with questionable functions
This also includes telephones that, in addition to online functions, also have a bugging function. Manufacturers often call this “voice monitoring”, “baby monitor function” or “one-way conversation”. The Federal Network Agency has examined devices and taken them off the market where the microphone or camera can even be activated via app or SMS command. With smartwatches that have the appropriate functions, for example, third parties can listen to voices in the vicinity of the watch. Last year, the Federal Network Agency had a total of more than 4,600 banned products removed from the market – twice as many as in the previous year; including vacuum robots, fragrance dispensers or tissue boxes with camera and audio functions.
But not all devices with these additional functions are illegal. They are only forbidden if they can connect to the Internet and send the image and voice files. This is how the new law on data protection, TTDSG for short, which has been in force since December 1, 2021, regulates it. When asked about a specific smoke detector that can record and save video, the Federal Network Agency confirmed that the device was legally commercially available in Germany. Nevertheless, according to Wulff, this smoke detector could also be used illegally. That is the case if a person was secretly recorded with it. That is a crime.
Smart devices offer attacks for hackers
Spy devices that connect to the internet are not only banned. They posed yet another problem, explains IT security expert Oded Vanunu from the company Checkpoint in Tel Aviv. Without a doubt, all these smart devices that connect to the Internet would pose risks for private data in a household or in companies: “Because this Internet access can also be used by hackers,” says Vanunu.
He demonstrates this with a table lamp hack. The IT security expert can not only take full control of the lamp, i.e. switch it on and off and change the colour: “The lamp serves me not only as a point of entry, but also as a point of attack on all other devices connected in the house I can access anything and do anything,” explains Vanunu. Hackers could also use the lamp to attack the victim’s computer and steal data.
Examine properties of devices carefully
When buying devices with additional functions, consumers should pay particular attention to whether a product has a wireless camera or microphone, whether image or audio files can be transmitted wirelessly to third parties without the person recording them knowing about it, and whether third parties can secretly use a microphone or camera can be accessed externally.
Federal Network Agency spokesman Wulff recommends consumers “read the product description carefully”. If in doubt, you can contact the Federal Network Agency, says Wulff: “We’ll take a look at it.” After all, who wants a spy in their own home?