CCTV Hacking Concerns in Australian Schools: How to Keep Your System and Students Safe

CCTV is fast becoming a standard feature in Australian primary and high schools, helping to deter bullying, vandalism, and unauthorised intruders while improving staff accountability and student safety. But with this increase in surveillance comes a very real risk: cyberattacks.

School CCTV systems often capture sensitive moments — children in playgrounds, classrooms, and corridors. If compromised, hackers could gain access to live feeds or archived footage, violating students’ privacy, undermining trust, and potentially breaching Australian privacy laws.

With parents, staff, and regulators becoming more aware of these risks, it’s crucial for schools to take deliberate, informed steps to secure their CCTV systems against hacking.

Why Are School CCTV Systems Vulnerable?

Schools are an appealing target for cybercriminals because:

Many rely on older, outdated cameras with little or no encryption.
Default passwords are often left unchanged or too weak.
Budget constraints lead to the purchase of cheaper, unsecured systems.
Remote access is sometimes left enabled and poorly configured.

Even a small breach can have serious consequences, including unauthorised access to video feeds, public exposure of student images, and damage to the school’s reputation.

Below are proven ways Australian schools can protect their CCTV infrastructure effectively and responsibly.

Best Practices for Securing CCTV in Schools

1. Use Strong, Unique Passwords and Better Authentication

A weak or default password is the easiest way for hackers to access a school’s CCTV system — and unfortunately, one of the most common mistakes.

At a minimum:
✅ Change all default passwords as soon as devices are installed.
✅ Use long, complex passwords with uppercase, lowercase, numbers, and symbols.
✅ Do not reuse passwords across multiple devices.
✅ Restrict administrator access to a small number of authorised staff.
✅ If available, enable two-factor authentication (2FA) for admin logins.

Maintaining a secure, up-to-date password policy is an easy and cost-effective defence against attacks.

2. Choose Reputable Brands That Prioritise Security

Not all CCTV cameras and recorders offer the same level of protection. Many low-cost, generic devices sold online provide no meaningful cybersecurity features — and in some cases have hardcoded backdoors.

Trusted, professional-grade brands like Hikvision invest heavily in school-appropriate security features, including:
End-to-end encryption, ensuring video streams and recordings are unreadable if intercepted.
Granular user management, letting schools assign specific access levels to administrators, security staff, or principals.
Regular firmware updates to fix known vulnerabilities.

The extra upfront investment in quality equipment pays for itself many times over by reducing risks and supporting compliance with privacy obligations.

3. Disable Remote Viewing Where Possible

One of the biggest risks to school CCTV security is the ability to view footage remotely over the internet. While convenient, remote access greatly increases your exposure to hacking attempts.

The most secure approach is to keep your CCTV system entirely on the school’s internal network, physically disconnected from the internet. This makes it virtually impossible for outside attackers to reach.

If your school requires remote viewing — for example, for a principal or facilities manager who needs after-hours access — work with your installer to ensure this is configured securely. The safest option is to require a VPN (virtual private network) connection before allowing access to cameras, rather than exposing them directly to the internet.

4. Maintain Regular Updates and Monitoring

Even the most secure equipment can develop vulnerabilities over time. Regular maintenance and monitoring are essential:

Apply firmware and software updates as they are released by the manufacturer.
Periodically review access logs to ensure no unauthorised logins have occurred.
Audit user accounts to confirm only current, authorised staff have access.
Train IT and facilities staff to recognise suspicious activity and escalate concerns.

Conclusion: A Secure CCTV System Is Part of a Safe School

CCTV has become an essential tool in creating safer, more secure learning environments. But without proper safeguards, it can also become a liability — undermining privacy and exposing students to risk.

By:
✅ Implementing strong, unique passwords,
✅ Choosing trusted, secure brands like Hikvision,
✅ Avoiding unnecessary remote access, and
✅ Maintaining regular updates and monitoring,
schools can ensure their CCTV systems fulfil their intended purpose — protecting students and staff — while minimising cyber risks.

If you’re planning to roll out or upgrade CCTV at your school, talk to a specialist about designing a system that balances safety, privacy, and compliance with Australian standards.