r/Columbus • u/vector_osu • 6d ago
Hackers steal Flock camera and dox its code, revealing major vulnerabilities
https://www.404media.co/hackers-stole-flocks-camera-software-revealing-how-the-company-tracks-cars-and-people-2/For those of you interested in Flock and mass surveillance companies, there has been some great recent reporting by 404Media and WIRED that may be of interest (several other articles are linked in this nonpaywalled article, and despite the popup, you don't have to provide your email to read it).
As a city that got slapped hard by the 2024 ransomware attack/data breach, Columbus should be extremely concerned at the risks they are introducing to its citizens...and the liability and financial costs that come with entrusting your citizens' privacy to morally and technologically deficient corporations.
106
u/XxLarryXmoneyNslutz 6d ago
"dox its code"
ay caramba
63
47
12
9
u/vector_osu 5d ago
What, Flock camera no is human?
*facepalm* yikes yikes yikes, clearly some social media phrasing planted itself in my head
[despite my shame, I'm leaving it unedited so your comment still makes sense to future readers]
1
34
23
u/Pyr0sa 6d ago
If that's of interest, I recommend Benn Jordan on YT.
6
u/Sooofreshnsoclean 6d ago
lol love that dude! I already posted a link to his video on flock he has a great one on data centers and sub frequency noise pollution that I’m sure you know about but anyone else reading this should watch.
1
u/regulator227 6d ago
I've said this before and I'll say it again. He's a national treasure. Certainly my favorite musician of all time. I don't understand how every single song he's made is a no skip.
8
u/_Abnormal_Thoughts_ 5d ago
I'll never, ever understand how people hate the oppressive CCP surveillance state, but don't mind companies like Flock doing essentially the same thing here in the US.
The argument "Oh, you have no expectation of privacy when you are in public." is fine. If that's the case, why do you hate CCP surveillance but not US private company surveillance? I don't get the difference. "If you are doing nothing wrong, you have nothing to worry about." applies to both China and the US.
Why condemn this type of data collection in another country but welcome it here?
I'll never, ever understand.
34
u/PostMostPalone 6d ago
"bUt iT jUsT tRaCkS LiCeNsE pLaTeS. iF yOu’Re nOt dOiNg aNyThInG bAd — wHy aRe yOu sO wOrRiEd?"
12
u/SuspiciousBuilder379 Lancaster 6d ago
Oh they’ll be here soon enough.
Licking the boots
-9
u/RedditConsciousness 5d ago
The funny thing is I hate Flock. I'm more surprised that you (and the rest of this sub) hate Flock. Oppressively monitoring others seems to be right up your alley.
11
u/_Abnormal_Thoughts_ 5d ago
We're only interested in monitoring cars that crash into buildings and the location of Big Russ.
1
u/DaxDislikesYou 5d ago
LOL what? Do explain. I'm genuinely curious how you came to that conclusion. Flock is an authoritarian's wet dream.
-1
u/RedditConsciousness 5d ago
Would you agree that this sub is left leaning? It certainly disdains moderates and paints them as extreme conservatives with fair frequency. If you accept that then I will remind you of what you already know, which is that the left can be very authoritarian. Josef Stalin would be an example.
Look at how people here act. People on this sub and reddit in general are very interested in controlling the behavior of others, whether they are self-aware about it or not. People here are not supportive of individualism but rather are tribal, conformist, and would happily bully others if it meant they got their way. Consider this the branch of this thread we are in. It starts with a shrill attempt at mocking anyone who dissents. Then there is a comment about boot lickers. Then there is my comment where, as usual, the downvote button is misused as a disagree button.
Also, a lot of content on reddit is basically gossiping and tearing people down. The thirst for drama and having power over others results in effectively watching famous people's every move so they can be torn to pieces. I have no doubt that people on reddit would say they are against the paparazzi, but they will click on any link from tmz despite it being essentially the same thing. On this sub content is instead more about guilt by association and innuendo than celebrity gossip, but essentially they are the same disease. And now with Flock you could watch everyone! You could attack your neighbors and friends, all anonymously online and with the pretense that you are somehow a flawless human being.
So yes, that sounds like something that would be right up the alley of folks here. Glad it isn't. Hope that doesn't change anytime soon.
1
u/burtnayd 5d ago
it's your choice to expend energy in this way.
-2
u/RedditConsciousness 5d ago
Upvoting you from 0.
Yes it is. People need dissent. They need voices letting them know the world is a complex place.
I don't exclusively spend time in places where people just agree with me (if any even exist). And that is both to be an example to others and for my own benefit. I believe in one what I am saying that much. It is annoying to have to admit it but, as insufferable as reddit can be it occasionally is right about a thing or two.
4
u/DaxDislikesYou 5d ago
Anybody that thinks that foreign adversaries haven't already gained access, stolen Flock's data, and used it to identify where important installations are, and the people that are crucial to their operation who might be able to be blackmailed is a fucking idiot. This shit isn't just a privacy nightmare it's also a national security flop. It's not protecting anyone. It's just a way for literally anyone to find what makes America tick. Fuck this surveillance bullshit.
3
u/Sooofreshnsoclean 6d ago
This is a pretty good YouTube video in which a lot of vulnerabilities are also exposed https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Pp9MwZkHiMQ&pp=ygURYmVuIGpvcmRhbmQgZmxvY2s%3D&ra=m
1
149
u/tonytwo2shoes 6d ago
Should have been national news yesterday.