A Double-Edged Sword: How Lab Cameras may Enable Cyber Deception in Biosecurity

Abstract

Cameras keep individuals and assets safe by monitoring behavior, configurations or indications of concern. Cameras are utilized throughout daily life; supporting lifestyles, greater domestic, civil, industrial or and laboratory infrastructure. Cameras monitor plants in controlled experiments, capturing images analyzed by AI to decide when to provide water or nutrients. This setup sounds efficient and reliable but introduces new risks. Internet-connected cameras can be hacked. If that happens, an attacker could fake the footage, hiding an intruder entering a high-security lab or tricking an automated system, like the AI-powered machine, into damaging crops. A tool meant to protect can easily turn into a threat. This paper explores how lab cameras act as both protectors and sources of risk in biosecurity laboratories. We combine research papers and real-world examples in a narrative review to understand how these systems are used and where they fail. We classify risks ranging from weak software and unprotected networks to tampered camera feeds and flawed security updates. Alongside this taxonomy, we discuss solutions such as better network isolation, automated checks for altered footage, and stronger device verification protocols. This review reveals that current research often treats cybersecurity and biosecurity as separate fields, leaving a critical gap where these domains overlap. Relatively few studies have examined how deceptive camera data could disrupt lab operations, cause security breaches, or lead to worse outcomes. Furthermore, few have examined the intersection of biosecurity, cyber-physical security, and cybersecurity. By connecting these domains, this paper highlights the necessity for an integrated approach to improve camera safety and reliability in laboratories. Implementing stronger standards and security practices is essential to prevent these vital devices from becoming vulnerabilities rather than assets. Integrated security efforts can benefit from closer inclusion of camera functions, uses, and forensics.