Hackers Breach Flock Camera, Access 1.6 Million Images and 27,321 Video Clips
Updated
Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Sep 17
Hackers Breach Flock Camera, Access 1.6 Million Images and 27,321 Video Clips
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo! Voices · Sep 17
Summary
stegan0gram physically removed a Flock roadside camera, extracted data from its storage and obtained 27,321 short video clips plus roughly 1.6 million images collected over 21 days.
An encryption key was stored in an unencrypted section of the device, letting the group access footage that Flock had said in a 2025 security alert would remain protected even if someone reached a camera.
The hacked unit photographed about 50,000 vehicles, underscoring how much data Flock now gathers as it expands from license-plate readers into video, drones and gunshot-detection tools used by police departments nationwide.
The breach lands after other scrutiny of Flock systems, including a CISA-rated 9.8 hardware flaw, misuse allegations in Kenosha County and a Florida case in which camera data helped wrongly jail a woman for 13 days.
If a secure police camera stores encryption keys locally, what else is hidden in the surveillance devices on your street?
How many innocent pedestrians have been secretly tracked by license plate readers designed only to monitor vehicles?
When hackers expose massive flaws in neighborhood surveillance tech, who is truly protecting your privacy from the protectors?
Inside the Flock Safety ALPR Hack: Security Flaws, 20 Billion Monthly Scans, and the Fight for Privacy in America
Overview
In October 2024, the hacker group stegan0gram physically removed a Flock Safety license plate camera in Wisconsin, extracted its internal data, and shared it with transparency organizations and journalists. A joint technical analysis revealed severe security flaws, including outdated software, hard-coded keys, and unencrypted footage, directly challenging Flock’s security claims. The findings exposed the massive scale of local surveillance and led to public scrutiny, legal reforms, and political backlash. As vulnerabilities and insider abuses came to light, Flock responded with security updates and policy changes, but privacy advocates continue to demand stronger judicial oversight and independent verification.