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IoT camera privacy and security analysis
2026 Summer Cohort — Project Track

Lens Check: IoT Camera Privacy Lab

Consumer IoT privacy and firmware analysis

Status

No intern completed a capstone on this track during the 2026 cohort. The track remains active and may be offered again in a future cohort.

Project Brief

Consumer IoT Privacy and Firmware Analysis

This track documents how a consumer IoT camera boots, connects to Wi-Fi, talks to cloud services, exposes local services, stores credentials, receives firmware updates, and handles video/audio or other privacy-sensitive data. The goal is not to break into devices, but to build a repeatable workflow for assessing consumer IoT privacy and security risks in a controlled lab.

Track Scope: Expected Deliverables

  • Teardown report: device model, hardware identifiers, external interfaces, and lab setup.
  • Network map: traffic observations for boot, pairing, login, update, live view, and reconnect workflows.
  • Firmware notes from collection and review using tools such as Binwalk, Ghidra, strings, Firmwalker, and EMBA.
  • Privacy summary explaining sensitive data flows and risks for consumers, schools, or nonprofits.
  • Consumer guide: safe configuration guidance and a responsible disclosure template.

Skills This Track Develops

Firmware Analysis IoT Security Network Traffic Analysis Privacy Assessment Responsible Disclosure