Hackers managed to crack Flock’s camera system, revealing how it tracks vehicles and people in unprecedented detail. The camera takes up to 100 images of a passing vehicle and can even spot bumper stickers, including an American flag on a motorcyclist’s saddlebag.

Despite claims of encryption, the hackers discovered ways to unlock the camera’s storage, including a key stored on the device itself. This breach shows that some people are not content with just destroying cameras; they want to understand how they work.

The cameras photograph vehicles and send the images to Flock’s servers, where they can be accessed by 2,000+ agencies across the country. This national network has been a selling point for Flock, but it has also caused controversy, with some communities banning the cameras due to fears about data privacy and misuse.

Security researcher Jon Gaines had previously revealed vulnerabilities in Flock’s system, but the hackers demonstrated that these could be exploited with physical access. The camera’s processor is similar to mid-range smartphones, running Flock-built apps that handle everything from motion detection to data classification and upload.