The DIY Threat to Security

January 1, 2009

Will the growth of do-it-yourself security video also be a threat to enterprise security? The answer today is yes. Like CDs, DVDs and flash drives, DIY security video gear can be a way that insiders ot visitors can steal information and intelligent property.

According to a new report from MultiMedia Intelligence, the consumer/DIY video surveillance market is expected to grow to nearly $260 million by 2012.

Applications expected to aid in this rise include everything from simple doorbell cameras to remote video recording services.

This opens up a potential market for several security sectors new and old.

“Telecom operators see networked video surveillance as an opportunity to offer home monitoring as a fee-based, value-added service,” says Mark Kirstein, president and co-founder of MultiMedia Intelligence. “Such services could expand upon the well established market for consumer security monitoring.

One example of the technology that also can provide a potential threat to enterprises is the PenCam DVR from Swann Communications. Designed to covertly capture video footage and easily transfer it to the user’s computer, the PenCam DVR is an all-in-one surveillance system that allows anyone to make their own hidden videos.

The PenCam DVR captures color AVI video files thanks to a camera concealed in the end of a real working pen. All footage is recorded on internal 2GB memory, capable of recording over 3 hours of video footage. When the memory is full, simply unscrew the pen and the lower half of the pen contains a USB connector that plugs into the user’s PC or laptop for easy back-up. Audio surveillance up to 3 feet is made possible by a built-in microphone. The PenCam DVR is powered by a rechargeable Lithium-ion battery that lasts 90 minutes on a full charge and recharges via a computer’s USB port.

“The addition of internal memory is by far the biggest improvement we made to the original PenCam concept,” commented Guy Pithie, Swann Communication’s Vice President North America. “Our customers are also looking for simplified ways to transfer video footage to their computers, making it easy to upload to sites like YouTube. The PenCam DVR’s hidden USB connector is a clever way to easily remove video footage from the device without worrying about cables or adaptors.”

The PenCam DVR has a MSRP of $119.99 and is coming soon to Swann’s retail and online resellers.

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The DIY Threat to Security

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