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I have seen lasers used to "dazzle" security cameras before but they normally use visible light and need pinpoint accuracy to be effective. I had never thought about using an array of IR LEDs (infrared light emitting diodes) to create a permanent result that would not be noticeable to anyone else around. Original Version, Translated version "IR.ASC is an infrared light - to the device before Divining infrared surveillance cameras. There is no special technical knowledge of each reconstructed. The device emits infrared light from the infrared images from surveillance cameras disturbs. The face of the person is monitored by a light ball over. Since the whole interaction in a non-visible spectrum (at frequencies between 780nm and 1mm), the man noticed nothing of it and he sees neither the infrared emission of radiation surveillance camera nor by the IR.ASC " Via: Boing Boing |
February 21st, 2008
I can’t help but think of that scene in Frailty where they look for phenton on the security cameras and it’s all jumbled because of “divine interference”. awesome idea.
February 21st, 2008
When I messed around with some power IR leds from dealextreme(0.5W each http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.4669 ) I achieved similar effects (not that I wanted to… I was using them for computer vision object tracking, they were TOO BRIGHT for that without some sort cover …) anyway the nice thing about these IR emitters is that they cover the whole hemisphere you would not need to build a cluster of them facing several directions…
February 21st, 2008
Only problem is, If they’re IR LEDs, how do you know when the battery is dead?
February 21st, 2008
Now I just need a 12V version for my car license plate. BestHongKong has cheap 12V drivers.
A hat version with integrated battery and solar panel would work for street walking.
February 21st, 2008
BigD145 it will only work in the dark how you will going to use solar panels in the dark
February 21st, 2008
mike: Digital cameras are sensitive to IR light day or night.
February 21st, 2008
[…] IR LEDs used to defeat Security Cameras - Hacked Gadgets - DIY Tech Blog […]
February 21st, 2008
Ingenious! I’d imagine you’d have to use some powerful IR LEDs as the majority available in shops arent very bright at all.
Just dont go walking nearby any crime-in-progress places (not that youd know of course) because you’d end up being the prime suspect on camera. Other things can identify you too, such as your clothes, any distinguishing marks/wounds, also build and height can be determined - maybe a full body IR LED suit then!!
@Shadyman - Just one more thing to add to the design then - a dim but visible LED for the power indicator. Kind of obvious once realising that slight oversight. Nobody else need see the visible light so keep it undercover.
February 21st, 2008
I have to admit, that’s pretty smart! Underhanded, but smart.
Make sure you drive the LEDs continuously and not pulsed or the camera will still catch you, maybe not on every frame, but they will still catch you.
I’m sure there would be harsh penalties for using one on your license plate, or in the commission of a crime.
It’s easy to do, but it’s also easy to detect and easy to counter. If it really catches on, it would be easy to build a tiny detector that the Police could carry around (no bigger than a button-cell keychain LED light.) If it really catches on, security cameras will start being built with beefed up IR filters; they already have them, but they currently use just enough so normal IR isn’t a problem (night-vision cameras would be completely vulnerable, however.)
February 21st, 2008
Hey BigD145,
Love that idea! Not legal but what a fantastic idea. I am sure it can be legally sold just like the under car lighting is fine to use when the vehicle is parked. The purpose of the lights could be to prevent people that are photographing your car from capturing your license plate.
February 21st, 2008
LED’s on your vehicle are only illegal in certain regions. Last time I checked, they just haven’t been certified as replacements to driving/brake/etc lights and that’s about all you could be ticketed for. If people can use that spray on stuff in most states, I’d expect to be able to LED’s.
February 22nd, 2008
Bear in mind that some camera’s (I.e. quite a few mobile phones and digital cameras) have built in IR filters in the lens. Sometimes they are quite easy to take out (especially the ones in phones) but obviously, you would not usually have the time or the access to deface the intended CCTV cameras.
A balaclava would usually suffice
February 22nd, 2008
Hi BigD145,
I guess it all depends on how lenient the law is in your area. Here in Canada you get a ticket for installing those blue LED wiper nozzle attachments. I don’t see any problem with them but I guess it is breaking some law here…
February 22nd, 2008
i’m curious on something, will this work at an off angle. from what i’ve read and please correct me if i am wrong this item projects ir out towards the camera. this would make it very directional. when you turn to the side slightly wouldn’t it lose all it’s power and basically not work any more since the ir would not be aimed at the camera?
February 22nd, 2008
LED undercarriage lighting on vehicles is illegal in Washington state, but only because it’s distracting. IR’s are not distracting.
February 22nd, 2008
As far as its use on cars, IR LEDs should be no problem because for all intents and purposes, they are “Not Turned On”. If anyone asks, just tell them to look, they’re turned off.
February 22nd, 2008
They won’t really show in broad daylight. Some cheap IR’s leak into the visible spectrum.
February 23rd, 2008
Phil Winder:
Virtually all cameras have an IR filter because the sensors are very sensitive to IR light. But, the filter is designed to block ambient IR radiation, not purposefully generated IR light. Even the low-power LED in a remote control will show up on a digital camera. Higher powered IR-LEDs do exactly what this article describes.
As far as plate-blocking: You can make arguments either way. If the cops can see the image they are recording, you’re going to be the brightest thing on that screen. On the other hand, if they are just recording video, (like at a red-light camera) they won’t be able to identify you later.
February 23rd, 2008
Dave, Ah, ok, didnt know that. I thought that most things have filters in it, and Ive tried to use my camera and mobile phone to view some IR projects I have done before, and saw nothing. I dont claim that this is true for all devices and LED’s, but for me, the filters also blocked IR.
Cheers,
Phil
February 23rd, 2008
why? why i must read a new hack against cameras on a english blog that links to a german site? why i dont read that bevore on german blogs… sick world…
hackedgadgets.com for the win ^^
February 23rd, 2008
ha ha I have been wondering if this would work on red light cameras…
February 24th, 2008
I thought what I’d do was, I’d pretend I was one of those deaf mutes
February 24th, 2008
…or should I?
February 24th, 2008
OMFG! IT’s THE LAUGHING MAN! (it’s an anime thing, look up it on google images)
February 24th, 2008
hehe … deaf mutes
February 25th, 2008
what if you put this on your car could you make it so that you do not get caught by those cameras.
February 25th, 2008
They just figured this out???
February 29th, 2008
Great! IR LEDs create standard Photoshop lens flair when filmed with security cameras!
March 2nd, 2008
Go ahead and put a beacon on your person or car that says, “I’m a criminal — come and get me.”
March 2nd, 2008
780nm to 1mm is wavelength, not frequency.
March 7th, 2008
[…] IR LEDs used to defeat Security Cameras […]
April 20th, 2008
@#30:
Wavelength and frequency are 2 different ways to describe a base in time, or timebase of an action, or wave. Same result, different ways of describing it.
May 7th, 2008
or just wear a mask. god you people r so stupid!
May 11th, 2008
They used large IR emitting “flashlights” to disable bank security cameras in the movie “Inside Man”. Pretty cool stuff knowing that any ol’ joe can do it.
May 14th, 2008
The question that comes to mind for me is: Can the IR overload be filtered out in post processing? (IE, with Photoshop, Gimp, etc.) I know that when you intentionally use a CCD camera to take IR pics, you have to put a very dark low pass (IR, only low frequencies go through) filter. (Basically: A REALLY dark red filter. No color with a higher frequency than red gets through.) This allows the still camera to see enough IR to make a useful image.
I don’t have any software available at the moment to do that (work machine, not allowed to install anything), but I know there are band pass filter add ons for both Photoshop and Gimp.
Be interesting to see if you could back out the face behind the flare.
May 14th, 2008
Interesting idea Mike but I wonder if at some point the CCD is just so saturated that there is no information left.
May 14th, 2008
Alan: Absolutely. After all, the USAF has admitted that the Chinese have managed to “dazzle” spy satellites with lasers, affectively preventing the camera from seeing anything.
If the DoD (and, more specifically, the NRO) can’t back out the image and clear up the dazzling effect, then there MUST be some threshold at which the every CCD is just simply overloaded.
However, I think that camera technology will advance faster than the rate at which we could find plausible reasons to have “dark” LEDs on our person. Security guards would quickly be taught to look for them.
At some point, you’d have to switch to some sort of directed IR, and that defeats the wonderful simplicity of this particular hack. It’s a brilliant hack. I don’t mean to disparage your idea. The simplicity and effectiveness on many (most?) current CCD cameras is great.
I’m just thinking a couple years down the road.
CVS is a huge company. They can afford those HD cameras because they are buying in ultra huge bulk. And that will have the eventual effect of lowering the price for everyone else. Market is against you in this case.
May 16th, 2008
Interesting concept.
Fails.
The IR energy from the IRLED is delivered as a focused beam. If the beam doesn’t face the camera, IR energy from the IRLED is not the saturating the security camera. Whatever the IRLED may be doing, it MUST face the camera to saturate the camera. That means the perp has to point the IRLED at the camera to keep it saturated. Which means that the perp has to have good aim to keep the focused beam pointed at the security camera.
May 16th, 2008
Spuffler , there are some power IR-leds (see second comment) that have a much larger viewing angle than those used in communications (IRDA for example) if those are used, the person wouldn’t need a good aim
but your right , the kind used in this project is extremely directional