FOCUS: cyber security & IP video surveillance Cyber security has become an increasing issue for the video surveillance industry. Now, Hikvision – the world´s biggest manufacturer of video surveillance equipment – is being accused of lacking of security. Hikvision’s products accused of being a security risk Products from Hikvision – the world’s biggest manufacturer of video surveillance equipment – are being accused of lacking in security. Various media sources – mainly the website IPVM.com and the British newspaper The Times – have claimed that the Chinese government may have access to footage from Hikvision cameras. Furthermore, the market leading VMS company Genetec has introduced restrictions against Hikvision products and this has increased the air of mistrust. By Henrik Söderlund /Lennart Alexandrie In 2014, hacking attacks were reported on Hikvision products. After that, Hikvision established a security response centre in order to manage security-related vulnerabilities. In 2015, a new structure was devised meaning that anyone setting up a Hikvision device now has to use more complicated software when launching the product. Back door In 2016, new accusations were directed towards Hikvision: this time allegations that Hikvision may have built-in, so called, back doors into their devices which would grant the Chinese government access to cameras, and thus to the networks and the sites where they are installed. The highprofile physical security blogger John Honowich and his website www.ipvm.com has been the main driver behind this criticism and still is. Controversial article Hikvision is publicly listed and the fact that its biggest shareholder is a Chinese state owned company is the very source of concern. The British newspaper The Times published an article last autumn The high-profile IP-video surveillance blogger John Honowich and his website www.ipvm.com has been the main driver behind this criticism and still is. where unnamed former officials and security officers from the British intelligence service MI6 claimed that Hikvisions cameras could be hacked by the Chinese government. Genetec disclaims responsibility Now, the CanadianVMS-company, Genetec, has started requiring new customers to pay for a special license if connecting Hikvision products to the Genetec VMS platform. And furthermore, existing customers need to sign a waiver in order to release Genetec from any responsibility if their network or other networks are hacked via a Hikvision device. In this issue of Detektor, both Hikvision and Genetec will give their views on this controversial matter. Security News Every Day – www. securityworldhotel.com dete kto r in te r n at i on al • 1 1