Locking Down Chromecast

[aslowe]

Is anyone aware if there are any plans to add security to this? either by Google or maybe a developer working something? I am using some of these for information monitor purposes at a restaurant I do IT work for. One of the employees "accidentally" started broadcasting YouTube videos to the TV overriding the computer feed. Even something as simple as requiring a pin before transmitting would be perfect.

My only other idea would be to put the Chromecast and computer on a different subnet to reduce the likelihood of accidental broadcast.

Anyone, let me know your thoughts. Thanks!

 

[anon(847090)]

to be fair chromecast is a consumer product not a commercial product.

 

[Craig King]

Also it is suppose to be able to do the party feature by design.

I think separate subnets is the way to go. You may be waiting a while for something from google since what you don't like is by design

 

[Devlyn16]

Put the ChromeCast and sending PC on a different wi-fi network and don't let emplyees use the casting computer. i would think that would solve the problem.

 

[Mikey47]

Two ideas:

1 - lock down the WIFI and don't provide the password. You shouldn't impose security restrictions on a product, when it is the infrastructure that should be locked down.

2 - If you have to provide public wifi access put the chromecast and PC on a different wireless network. (as mentioned above).

 

[Small_law]

I hate to post this, but Apple TV allows you to set up a simple pass code to prevent people from streaming to it even if they are connected to the same wifi network as the Apple TV. I don't know if this is because Apple TV supports ad hoc connections in the absence of a internet-connected WiFi network; my Apple TV has always been connected to my home WiFi network, so I don't know if it does ad hoc connections (directly from an iOS device to the Apple TV, no WiFi network needed). Because Chromecast needs an infrastructure connection to work, it does make less sense to have a pass code on top of the one for the Internet-connected WiFi network Chromecast needs to work.

 

[DreamlineRTB]

This just killed any reason for me to buy one. I'd originally hoped to use it as a cheap way to stream NetFlix at hotels and the like. Of course, the security on a hotel WiFi is usually nonexistent. I don't want to be midway through a Breaking Bad episode and have someone else (maliciously or accidentally) start casting Sharknado or worse...
Until this gets addressed, it is off my holiday wish-list; I'm going back to an HDMI phone adapter or AllShare hub or similar...

 

[zkSharks]

This just killed any reason for me to buy one. I'd originally hoped to use it as a cheap way to stream NetFlix at hotels and the like. Of course, the security on a hotel WiFi is usually nonexistent. I don't want to be midway through a Breaking Bad episode and have someone else (maliciously or accidentally) start casting Sharknado or worse...
Until this gets addressed, it is off my holiday wish-list; I'm going back to an HDMI phone adapter or AllShare hub or similar...

Be aware that due to how the Chromecast works, that issue likely won't be present, but for the same reason you also won't be able to use the Chromecast yourself. This is due to wireless isolation typically being enabled on high-access networks like that. Check out this thread for more information: http://forums.androidcentral.com/google-chromecast/300070-traveling-chromecast.html. Wireless isolation prevents devices connected to the wireless network from communicating with each other for security purposes.

You could try setting up a hotspot-style network from a laptop or smartphone and using the Chromecast on that, but I haven't tried that myself yet and so can't guarantee how viable that is as a solution.

 

[aslowe]

Thanks for the input. $35 for a device like this, I can't really complain. It looks like I will go with the separate subnet option. Maybe if I am lucky they will put a pin option on it eventually.

Also thanks Jerry for putting me on the front page.