Yes—among the countries in Bitsight TRACE’s June 10, 2025 scan, the United States had the most internet-exposed security cameras: roughly 14,000 of more than 40,000 detected worldwide. That is a point-in-time scan, not a count of every camera in the country or proof that the U.S. is permanently No. 1.
What the 2025 scan found
Bitsight scanned cameras using HTTP and RTSP, two ways devices can serve video over a network. It reported more than 40,000 internet-accessible cameras, with roughly 14,000 in the United States—more than Japan and the other countries listed in its findings. Bitsight said some feeds could be reached with a standard web browser and the camera’s IP address. Bitsight’s report describes the scan and its findings.
The exposed cameras showed a range of private and operational spaces, including front doors, backyards, living rooms, offices, factories and public transportation. Bitsight also reported dark-web discussions about locating and selling access to exposed feeds. Its account of observed camera exposure explains why this is a privacy and security problem, not simply a device misconfiguration.
What “No. 1” does—and does not—mean
The ranking applies to the cameras observable in Bitsight’s scan at that time. It is not a census of all U.S. security cameras, and it does not establish that the United States has the highest exposure rate per camera or per person. Bitsight cautions that its more-than-40,000 finding is likely only the visible portion of the problem because a scan can count only exposure it can observe.
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The finding is therefore best read as a measured snapshot: the U.S. had the largest number of exposed cameras among the countries in that scan. The available figures do not establish a current live count or a permanent country ranking.
Why a security camera may be viewable online
Bitsight identifies three recurring weaknesses: default or publicly known passwords, remote access left on when it is not needed, and outdated camera firmware. Any one can make a device easier to reach or compromise. A feed that is exposed to the internet may be accessible without the owner realizing it; in some cases, a browser and the exposed IP address are enough to view it.
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CISA’s Internet Exposure Reduction Guidance, published June 4, 2025, takes a broader organizational view. It advises finding internet-exposed assets, removing exposure that is not operationally necessary, and mitigating exposure that must remain. It also flags misconfiguration, default credentials and outdated software as risks.
How to check whether your camera is exposed
- Check remote-viewing settings. In the camera or system’s app, web dashboard or recorder settings, look for remote access, internet access, port forwarding, or a similar feature. If you do not need to view the feed away from home, turn remote access off. Menu names vary by manufacturer.
- Test from outside your home network. Bitsight recommends checking whether the camera can be reached from outside the local network. Use the vendor’s documented remote-access method or ask your network administrator to check the router and camera configuration. Do not probe devices or addresses that you do not own or have permission to assess.
- Review the router’s exposed services. Check for port-forwarding rules or other settings that make the camera or recorder reachable from the public internet. Remove rules you do not need. If the camera must be reachable remotely, restrict access using a VPN or firewall controls where supported.
- Change credentials and update software. Replace default login details with a unique, hard-to-guess password, then install available firmware updates using the manufacturer’s instructions. If the vendor no longer provides security updates, consider whether continued use is appropriate.
How to stop strangers from viewing a camera
- Use a unique password. Do not keep factory-default credentials or reuse a password from another account. Enable multifactor authentication if the camera service offers it.
- Disable access you do not use. Turn off remote viewing or internet access when it is unnecessary. A camera that only needs to work inside the home network may not need to accept connections from the internet.
- Keep firmware current. Apply updates from the manufacturer, and review update settings periodically rather than assuming the camera updates itself.
- Limit necessary remote access. For a camera that must be viewed remotely, use a VPN or firewall protections where available instead of exposing the camera directly. Organizations should also monitor for unusual login activity, as Bitsight recommends.
- Reassess devices and network rules. Remove obsolete port-forwarding rules and review which cameras, recorders and accounts still need access. CISA’s guidance for organizations is to eliminate unnecessary internet exposure and mitigate what remains.
These steps reduce common exposure paths; they cannot guarantee that a device is secure. The cited findings do not rank camera brands or certify a particular product, so owners should check the security and update support of their specific model with its manufacturer.
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