When these IP cameras were manufactured in the 2000s and 2010s, usability often took priority over security. Out of the box, many devices were configured to allow public viewing of the video feed without requiring a username or password. Administrative privileges were restricted, but the "viewer" mode was open by default. Homeowners and business owners plugged the devices in, set up port forwarding on their routers, and assumed their feeds were private simply because they hadn't shared the link. 2. Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) and Port Forwarding