Amazon promotes 'extremely creepy' security cameras that can be easily hacked to spy on you

'Someone spied on us,' one buyer revealed. 'They talked through the camera and they turned the camera on at will'

Some security cameras sold on Amazon are vulnerable to cyber attacks from hackers (Getty Images)

Security cameras recommended and sold by Amazon come with "huge" security risks, according to a study.

An investigation by UK consumer watchdog Which? revealed that cameras with an Amazon Choice tag could be easily hacked.

Weak passwords and unencrypted data meant the security cameras could be hijacked by cyber criminals and used to secretly spy on their owners.

Amazon Choice labels denote a popular item sold through the online retailer and are typically the top result when searching for an item using the Alexa voice assistant.

“There appears to be little to no quality control with these sub-standard products, which risk people’s security yet are being endorsed and sold on Amazon,” said Adam French, a consumer rights expert at Which?.

“Amazon and other online marketplaces must take these cameras off sale and improve the way they scrutinise these products. They certainly should not be endorsing products that put people’s privacy at risk.”

Reviews posted to Amazon revealed incidences where buyers claimed strangers had spied on them through the security cameras.

"Someone spied on us. They talked through the camera and they turned the camera on at will. Extremely creepy," one reviewer wrote about a Victure wireless security camera, which has a 4.4 star rating on Amazon.

The reviewer claimed that three different people experienced it and that Amazon was informed, however the camera continues to be sold.

According to the report, around 50,000 security cameras in the UK and 2 million worldwide may be affected. The Independent has contacted Victure for comment.

Amazon did not comment on Which?'s investigation but did respond to a request for comment from The Independent.

"We require all products offered in our store to comply with applicable laws and regulations, and we proactively monitor multiple sources for safety notifications, including from regulatory agencies and direct contacts from brands, manufacturers, and sellers."

Security experts say manufacturers and retailers need to do more to protect consumers from unsafe internet-connected devices

The issues once again highlights the security issues with internet-connected devices that have proliferated in recent years.

Unwanted intrusions through so-called Internet of Things devices have included hacked baby monitors, which have been used to spy on sleeping children.

“The revelation that more than 50,000 internet-connected cameras sold by Amazon and other retailers could have critical security flaws will send a shiver down the spine of consumers, but this is only the tip of the iceberg," said Wai Man Yau, vice president of security specialists Sonatype.

“Every day thousands of vulnerable software components are built into a wide range of devices, and this isn’t limited to unknown brands lurking on Amazon... Manufacturers, retailers, governments and consumers all need to be educated about the risks, and work together to secure our increasingly connected world.