WASHINGTON — Lawmakers and neighbors are discussing聽security breaches聽after a聽hobbyist claimed his drone聽landed on the White House grounds early Monday聽morning聽undetected.
It’s raising questions about regulations, privacy and security.
Drones are becoming hobbyists’聽favorite new toy, and a security nightmare for others. Easy to buy and operate, 聽drones聽are listed for as little as $50 on some websites.
Brian Hearing, of D.C.-based DroneShield, says the White House breach is raising more questions about regulating drone activity.
“Now, anybody can hover over your neighbor’s fence and take pictures,” Hearing says.
That includes the president’s fence.
Hearing’s company was born out of security concerns. Installed on existing security fences, an industrial-grade microphone picks up on the hum that drones emit as they come within range.
“We use聽acoustics. 聽So we listen for sounds that drones make. it’s a really unique sound — it’s unlike anything else on the planet,” he says.
That matches to a database of drone sounds and can trigger an alert within security systems. Overall, while drone technology is advancing, so is the technology to arm against them.
Follow 聽on聽Twitter and .
