Why Surveillance Pros Rationally Won't Care About The Massive Dahua Mirai Attack

Actually, remotely pushed updates can also create a whole new set of security risks. Imagine being able to hijack that mechanism. If attacks were bad before, they'd get truly horrendous then.

"Who should be responsible for paying for these fixes? The customer, the integrator, or the manufacturer?"

That is the real question. Right now, the answer seems to be "nobody". It's easy to see why, there are points that could be argued from each side.

As an integrator: I feel the manufacturer should invest effort in testing the security of their products. Failing that, they should invest in their reputation and pay to have us fix it.

As an manufacturer: We can't close every possible hole. The integrator should design their network to prevent possible oversights from creating an attack vector. We all need to do our part.

As an end user: Why didn't the integrator recommend I purchase a different product with more security features? Why did I buy brand X when recommended by the integrator in lieu of another integrator selling brand Y?

Because honestly, closing up these oversights with firmware updates is all fine and dandy and it should definitely happen, but in the end this hack shows that outside of manufacturers needing tougher firmware and forcing installers into cyber security measures, the INSTALLERS need to shut down avenues for attack as well.

Smarter installers are really the key to securing the products that are out there on the field. Manufacturers can only release what they release, but implementation is the key. Everything about this attack hinged on exploiting easily avoidable oversights. Dahua took the easy way out with their equipment to provide ease of setup, administration, and use. This meant their products were not stupid proof in terms of cyber security. Now the climate has changed to where awareness is necessary at all levels.

For example, John Dillabaugh knows wtf he's doing and he actively seeks out firmware updates to correct his installation difficulties, but he's not crazy enough to rely on manufacturers for his cyber security measures. He doesn't care about me or anyone else holding his hand. He locks down the network that the cameras are on by himself. The only time he really needed us was when the firmware updates he wanted were being rejected by the camera.

Otherwise, for him, it's business as usual and don't let the bad guys in. Plain and simple.

FYI, I voted yes, but I still understand no.

And in this case they care less than usual, since the devices being hacked are not necessarily impacted, so no disaster for the owners of the device. The cameras just go back to work on Monday morning like everybody else, until they are needed in the next DDOS attack.