Hotel owners need to check their property from home. The front desk manager wants to see if the valet is busy. Consequently, the CCTV interface is frequently port-forwarded directly to the public internet without a VPN or robust authentication.
However, this does not mean the threat is gone. Attackers and researchers have moved on to even more powerful tools and techniques. While a simple Google search may yield fewer results today, dedicated search engines like have filled the gap. Shodan is a search engine for internet-connected devices, indexing everything from webcams to industrial control systems. A search on Shodan for specific ports or banners associated with camera feeds will return a vast number of results, far exceeding what a Google dork can find. inurl viewerframe mode motion hotel
: Turn off the room lights, shine a direct light around the space, and look for the telltale blue or red reflection of a camera lens. Hotel owners need to check their property from home
Scan your room when you first arrive. Look for unusual devices blinking on smoke detectors, alarm clocks, or wall outlets. However, this does not mean the threat is gone
However, not all CCTV cameras are created equal. Some are connected to the internet, allowing users to access the footage remotely through a web interface. These cameras are often referred to as "IP cameras" or "network cameras."
Unveiling the "inurl:viewerframe?mode=motion" Hotel Surveillance Phenomenon: Privacy, Security, and Ethics