Former ADT Technician Pleads Guilty To Hacking Home Security Cams In North Texas, Faces Up To 5 Years In Prison

CBS Dallas/Fort Worth ^ | January 21, 2021 | Staff

[L.A.Justice]

DALLAS (CBSDFW.COM) – A home security technician has pleaded guilty to repeatedly hacking into customers’ video feeds, announced Acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Prerak Shah.

Telesforo Aviles, a 35-year-old former ADT employee, pleaded guilty to computer fraud on Thursday, Jan. 21, in federal court.

“This defendant, entrusted with safeguarding customers’ homes, instead intruded on their most intimate moments,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Prerak Shah. “We are glad to hold him accountable for this disgusting betrayal of trust.”

“The defendant used his position of employment to illegally breach the privacy of numerous people. The FBI works with our law enforcement partners to thoroughly investigate all cyber intrusions and hold criminals accountable for their actions,” said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Matthew J. DeSarno. “Cyber intrusions do not only affect businesses, but also members of the public. We encourage everyone to practice cyber hygiene with all their connected devices by reviewing authorized users and routinely changing passwords.”

According to plea papers, Aviles admits that contrary to company policy, he routinely added his personal email address to customers’ “ADT Pulse” accounts, giving himself real-time access to the video feeds from their homes.

In some instances, he claimed he needed to add himself temporarily in order to “test” the system; in other instances, he added himself without their knowledge.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Aviles took note of which homes had attractive women, then repeatedly logged into these customers’ accounts in order to view their footage for sexual gratification, he admits.

Plea papers indicate he watched numerous videos of naked women and couples engaging in sexual activity inside their homes.

Over a four and a half year period, Aviles secretly accessed roughly 200 customer accounts more than 9,600 times without their consent, he admits.

Aviles, who waived indictment and was charged via an information, now faces up to five years in federal prison.

[L.A.Justice]

Plea papers indicate he watched numerous videos of naked women and couples engaging in sexual activity inside their homes.

I am sure that this is a public relations disaster for ADT...I wonder how many people decided to cancel ADT service after this guy got busted...

Security camera inside house? I think that it would be placed in the living room...Not the bedroom...I guess some couples decided to have some fun in the living room...I also think that some ladies decided to walk around nude in the living room...Maybe it is not a good idea to walk around nude in your living room if there is a security camera...Hacking could happen any time...

[ProtectOurFreedom]

“Most intimate moments?”

They have cameras watching me down a Jack Daniels and a nice filet mignon in the dining room followed by a good Ringelmann #5 Cigar in the smoking lounge?

[Paladin2]

BiXiden to pardon him yet this week....

[AnotherUnixGeek]

I am sure that this is a public relations disaster for ADT...I wonder how many people decided to cancel ADT service after this guy got busted...

It's certainly a disaster for in-home security cameras. Only way I'd use one is if I set up the configuration myself.

[EinNYC]

Is this trash an illegal? Wouldn’t be surprised. Drop him back home from an airplane. Free ride...called free fall.

[Levy78]

Only one Jack Daniels? That’s not even foreplay!

[BipolarBob]

How many bottles do you drink in a night?

[Levy78]

As many as it takes.

[BiteYourSelf]

Yup wired cameras hooked into a hard drive secured in my home.
None of this cloud stuff.🤔

[exDemMom]

Hmm, I just had an ADT technician over today installing an alarm system. I was thinking, if he had nefarious purposes, I’ve given him a lot of information and so forth.

I’ll double check the system settings and account profile to make sure.

[ProtectOurFreedom]

I set up my Honeywell system myself. It has a switch you flip so cameras are disabled when the security system is disarmed. The cameras only are on when we are away and the system is armed. It’s real simple to do.

[magna carta]

at least he will face punishment...but think about the millions of defrauded voters in the USA....no justice in sight

[Fledermaus]

Why would people put security cameras in places where they could be seen in “intimate moments”?

[mylife]

tried? Little bastard

[BiglyCommentary]

Anyone who has mic or camera devices going out to some third party cloud/server is a fool. If you want outside access setup your own VPN tunnel.

[Delta 21]

Why do you need cameras inside your house¿?

Isn’t pics, video and audio of them breaking and entering and a bloody dead body just inside my door enough for the judge?

[Born to Conserve]

A couple decades ago, I was working with high end video conferencing. I could have been a fly on the wall of some board room I dare not mention.

[Still Thinking]

How do they catch someone doing that? and Why would anyone have security cams INSIDE the house?

[2 Kool 2 Be 4-Gotten]

I watched a French Netflix series or something like it with this exact premise!

[Flick Lives]

Over a four and a half year period, Aviles secretly accessed roughly 200 customer accounts...

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ADT is going to be hit with 200 law suits.