Hackers managed to breach a Flock Safety camera by removing the device and accessing its internal storage, successfully recovering an encryption key that unlocked video data. The recovered files, shared with 404 Media and WIRED, provide an unprecedented look into how the system tracks movement.
Hackers Breach Flock Safety Cameras, Exposing Detailed Tracking Data
The analysis of the data shows that the device's software explicitly detects not only vehicles and license plates but also people and bicycles. While Flock Safety has claimed its cameras are protected by on-device encryption, the hackers were able to access the Android-based system and find unencrypted partitions.
The camera's computer-vision software generates a rapid sequence of images—approximately 28 per passing vehicle—to capture data. While the cameras themselves appear to capture the images, the identification of vehicle make, model, and color likely occurs on Flock’s servers.
The breach highlights ongoing controversies surrounding the national network of Flock cameras, which allows various agencies to search records. Additionally, the recovered logs revealed technical struggles, including thousands of "no space left on device" errors and frequent system reboots.
Sources
- Hackers Got Inside a Flock Camera. Its Data Shows How the System Works （Hacker News Frontpage, 2026-09-16）