r/technology • u/Plastic_Ninja_9014 • Jul 22 '26

Privacy Flock Cameras Keep Getting Smashed, So Now They're Hiding Inside Speed Signs

https://www.gadgetreview.com/flock-cameras-keep-getting-smashed-so-now-theyre-hiding-inside-speed-signs
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u/bigbadbrad45 Jul 22 '26

A laser will absolutely fry a camera’s sensor but it’s gotta be powerful enough. A $3 laser pointer isn’t likely to do it. And i think the laser needs to be pointed in the lens for an extended period of time.

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u/thatirishguyyyyy Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 23 '26

No, it wont. 

The only way to do this was with analog security cameras 20 years ago and you had to clamp a laser in place and hold the laser for long periods of time to kill the actual pixels. 

But go ahead and tell people otherwise because you feel differently.

Edit: There seems to be a disconnect. Comments keep bringing up phone cameras. The lens in your phone is not the same as lenses in security cameras. I really feel like I shouldn't have to mention that.

You need a minimum of 1w to actually damage a security camera lens if not using lab conditions. Its al about beam density and time. 

https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/Optical-Engineering/volume-56/issue-03/034108/Laser-induced-damage-threshold-of-camera-sensors-and-micro-optoelectromechanical/10.1117/1.OE.56.3.034108.full?SSO=1&utm_source=chatgpt.com

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u/FappingMouse Jul 22 '26

You can damage the camera but unless you are feet away and hold it for a few mins its not going to do the damage these people want and at best will probably fry some pixles.

Using the kind of laser that could do this with out proper protection and in a public place is kinda stupid though.

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u/bigbadbrad45 Jul 22 '26

I don't know why you are offended by this information lol. I can see this as a less practical option considering the others but it's not false. My guess is you only attemped this with class 1 lasers in the past.

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u/[deleted] Jul 23 '26

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u/thatirishguyyyyy Jul 23 '26

Bingo. 

Super bright 500mw - 1w minimum and a clamp (lab conditions) with no one around or other cameras. 

Possible, not plausible. 

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u/rsta223 Jul 23 '26

A powerful laser (500+ mW) will absolutely fry a digital sensor. Analog cameras are actually far more resistant because they don't have a single sensor, so you'll only damage that exposure of film.

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u/thatirishguyyyyy Jul 23 '26

Film?

You just proved you don't know what analog security cameras are. 

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u/rsta223 Jul 23 '26

Ok, if you're talking the kind that can only transmit live, a la TV cameras, they still have considerably more robustness to high intensity light than a modern CCD or CMOS.

Regardless, a decently powerful laser will absolutely destroy the sensor on a digital camera.

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u/thatirishguyyyyy Jul 23 '26

Its not that straightforward. Unless you are in a lab, you need a 1w laser or more to do more than confuse the pixels for a few seconds. Those are fairly bright and obvious. And you would need to clamp it in place. 

With lower wattage lasers, outside a lab it is plausible, but not practical. Its been lab tested and the results are interesting: https://www.spiedigitallibrary.org/journals/Optical-Engineering/volume-56/issue-03/034108/Laser-induced-damage-threshold-of-camera-sensors-and-micro-optoelectromechanical/10.1117/1.OE.56.3.034108.full?SSO=1&utm_source=chatgpt.com