If you are relying on video as part of your home security plan you should use your own DVR

[Jeff White]

Amazon is paying a $5.8 million dollar settlement over an employee viewing customer feeds for personal gratification.

https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2023/06/amazons-ring-camera-used-to-spy-on-customers

Any video feed that you don't control is a potential security leak. Besides the creepy voyeurism outlined in the article, there is huge potential for burglars case a house.

Many years ago there was a high end burglary crew working in the midwest. This was before home video was a thing but they had some kind of intelligence because they only hit homes that they had somehow cased. They hit a home where I was working, a small town of 8000. Left no clues. The FBI surmised that they were flying into small airports (unmanned, no tower) hooking up with someone on the ground, pulling the burglary and leaving by small plane. They got a lot of high dollar jewelry here. To my knowledge they were never caught. I always thought it was someone at an insurance company.

Video feeds in your home would make very easy for a bad actor to target you.

 

[bdickens]

I've said it before: NEVER trust anything associated with Amazon or Google for either security or privacy.

 

[Tilos]

A local pervert was charged with sending child porn to other pervs the police were "alerted" by google after the porn showed up in "cloud" storage associated to the prevert.
It seems they search all cloud storage regularly for this and whatever else google deems useful.
If you send vids/pics/any large files via email it will be stored in a cloud, it's not there attached to the email and when the recipient clicks on the photo , it's just a link to the cloud storage.

There are otions/settings in most email software were you can opt-out of using cloud storage, find it and reset your email account.
I did,
.

 

[wayneinFL]

Amazon is paying a $5.8 million dollar settlement over an employee viewing customer feeds for personal gratification.

https://www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/2023/06/amazons-ring-camera-used-to-spy-on-customers

Any video feed that you don't control is a potential security leak. Besides the creepy voyeurism outlined in the article, there is huge potential for burglars case a house.

Many years ago there was a high end burglary crew working in the midwest. This was before home video was a thing but they had some kind of intelligence because they only hit homes that they had somehow cased. They hit a home where I was working, a small town of 8000. Left no clues. The FBI surmised that they were flying into small airports (unmanned, no tower) hooking up with someone on the ground, pulling the burglary and leaving by small plane. They got a lot of high dollar jewelry here. To my knowledge they were never caught. I always thought it was someone at an insurance company.

Video feeds in your home would make very easy for a bad actor to target you.

Okay, but what do you do when the criminal takes the DVR? Where would you back that up outside your home that is not on the cloud on someone else's server?

 

[sparkyv]

For home security, wired, non-networked is more secure than wifi, period. More costly, more difficult to install, less options, lowtech; yes, but undoubtedly more secure.

 

[jmorris]

All of my video feeds are outside my home, so I can know what’s out there before it has a chance to come inside.

 

[bearcreek]

Okay, but what do you do when the criminal takes the DVR? Where would you back that up outside your home that is not on the cloud on someone else's server?

We can. if we're so inclined, "what if" ourselves out of just about any idea, good or bad.

 

[P89DCSS]

A local pervert was charged with sending child porn to other pervs the police were "alerted" by google after the porn showed up in "cloud" storage associated to the prevert.
It seems they search all cloud storage regularly for this and whatever else google deems useful.
If you send vids/pics/any large files via email it will be stored in a cloud, it's not there attached to the email and when the recipient clicks on the photo , it's just a link to the cloud storage.

There are otions/settings in most email software were you can opt-out of using cloud storage, find it and reset your email account.
I did,
.

Any link for this?

 

[luzyfuerza]

Okay, but what do you do when the criminal takes the DVR? Where would you back that up outside your home that is not on the cloud on someone else's server?

Many cameras include slots for memory cards.

If the NVR is stolen, the cards store backup video.

 

[wayneinFL]

We can. if we're so inclined, "what if" ourselves out of just about any idea, good or bad.

This wasn't a what if aliens came from space scenario. Intruders removed video equipment from a home in national news earlier this year. It happens.

There are some good ideas and bad ideas. There are also ideas that have advantages and disadvantages.

An incomplete list of advantages of internet cameras are that they can be accessed from anywhere, they can be accessed in real time, and they can be backed up where someone with access to your home cannot physically access the data storage.

Disadvantages are that they can be hacked, or accessed by the company that owns the server.

I'm still interested in answers to this question if anyone has an answer. Where would you back that up outside your home that is not on the cloud on someone else's server?

 

[Hartkopf]

I'm still interested in answers to this question if anyone has an answer. Where would you back that up outside your home that is not on the cloud on someone else's server?

Another server, maybe hidden in a bathroom. (not outside the home but might not be seen)

 

[P89DCSS]

My 8 camera wireless system's DVR is hidden.
I use a few Ring cameras outside due to ease of use when I'm not at home. The Ring app is very good compared to my 8 camera system's app.
I have a Ring camera inside connected to a switched power outlet. When I leave I switch the camera on, when I return I turn the camera off.
My surveillance system is my first line of protection. Without it I'm blind to threats.

It's silly how surveillance system detractors find excuses to not use them.

 

[luzyfuerza]

I have a Ring camera inside connected to a switched power outlet. When I leave I switch the camera on, when I return I turn the camera off.

Great idea!

 

[Jeff White]

I have no inside cameras. My house isn't that big that I need the ability to sit in the safe room and watch intruders inside the house. My oldest son designs and programs camera systems for the biggest security company in the region. I'm not against cameras, I'm against giving anyone access to my video feed. There is no reason to and very good reasons not too.

 

[Tilos]

Any link for this?

Yea, it was a while ago but his pic is on this page, and I don't have the time to look for it.
I believe he's wearing a orange jump suit and he is an older guy, click on the pic will link you to the story.
(1) Treasure Valley Crime & Community | Groups | Facebook
.

 

[wayneinFL]

I have no inside cameras. My house isn't that big that I need the ability to sit in the safe room and watch intruders inside the house. My oldest son designs and programs camera systems for the biggest security company in the region. I'm not against cameras, I'm against giving anyone access to my video feed. There is no reason to and very good reasons not too.

Can you access your cameras when you are away from home?

 

[Jeff White]

Can you access your cameras when you are away from home?

I have no need to access the cameras if I’m not home. Cameras collect evidence they do not stop crime. If the house is breached there is an alarm. I have no illusions about what security systems can and can’t do. I live in a rural area and the cameras allow me to see what’s outside the house.

Please explain what advantage being able to access the cameras gives me if I’m not there to do anything about what I see on the camera?

 

[D.B. Cooper]

All of my video feeds are outside my home, so I can know what’s out there before it has a chance to come inside.

Yeah. I can't imagine why anyone would want cameras inside their home.

 

[old lady new shooter]

I have no need to access the cameras if I’m not home. Cameras collect evidence they do not stop crime. If the house is breached there is an alarm. I have no illusions about what security systems can and can’t do. I live in a rural area and the cameras allow me to see what’s outside the house.

Please explain what advantage being able to access the cameras gives me if I’m not there to do anything about what I see on the camera?

I've heard about people with a Ring doorbell answering and pretending to be home when they're actually somewhere else.

 

[Jeff White]

I've heard about people with a Ring doorbell answering and pretending to be home when they're actually somewhere else.

Is it worth giving up all of your privacy to be able to do that?

 

[wayneinFL]

Please explain what advantage being able to access the cameras gives me if I’m not there to do anything about what I see on the camera?

The advantage for me when I was on the road and I had kids living at home was that I could see when they were coming and going, or when a stranger was at the door.

A mother at the grocery store I worked at, before these cameras became so common, came home at the end of her shift (10PM-11PM) to find her daughter missing.

So, yeah, she would not have been home, but she could have done something if her daughter didn't come home from the bus stop. Had she been able to call neighbors, cops, or somebody at 3:45, there is a chance somebody could have found her kid. By 10PM, it was too late.

The disadvantage in my case is that a burglar could have hacked into a camera and seen that I had valuables? I'd accept that. Everybody on the street can see I have valuables when I open the garage door- the big red tool box stands out. If a burglar can hack my cameras and see stuff, he also can see there's no one home and break in without sparking a Iife or death situation with my family, when he steals my insured valuables.

I think everyone should be aware of the advantages and disadvantages. They have a tradeoff, either way. I don't think anyone can determine the right tradeoff for everyone else.

 

[P89DCSS]

Can you access your cameras when you are away from home?

Absolutely I can access my camera surveillance system whenl I'm out. My 8 camera outside surveillance system is able to be accessed with a secure password. My outside 8 camera system sees is my 1/10 acre city lot perimeter. I always have my inside monitor running underneath my big screen TV. Nobody walks past on or my property without being surveilled by me in real time. When someone walks up to my door and ignores my Ring doorbell camera I come on the Ring asking them to step away from my door and address my Ring. As of this post, they always do. They know they're being recorded and behave. I'm not afraid of technology, my surveillance is in publicly accessible areas.

 

[P89DCSS]

Is it worth giving up all of your privacy to be able to do that?

That's not giving up privacy, it's accessing secure surveillance technology. Your reservations are unfounded.

 

[P89DCSS]

I've heard about people with a Ring doorbell answering and pretending to be home when they're actually somewhere else.

I've had this technology for 3 years now....I think it's a good thing. My camera faces the street 30 feet from the sidewalk.

 

[Jeff White]

That's not giving up privacy, it's accessing secure surveillance technology. Your reservations are unfounded.

No my reservations are not unfounded. Nothing that is connected to the internet is secure.

You might be shocked to learn that most big customers in this area, schools, hospitals, large businesses do not connect their video feeds to the cloud. My son who designs and programs these large camera systems for a living often has to go to a client and pull the video after an incident. A couple months back my son had to testify in a murder trial because he pulled the video that identified the suspect. It was basic expert witness stuff and I coached him on how to testify in a criminal trial.

When I ran the jail none of our video feeds left the building. If it’s transmitted through the air it can be intercepted.

If you’re ok with the potential security breach that’s fine with me. That’s not a risk I find acceptable. In my situation there is very little benefit that offsets the loss of privacy and the risk. Your mileage may vary.

When someone walks up to my door and ignores my Ring doorbell camera I come on the Ring asking them to step away from my door and address my Ring. As of this post, they always do. They know they're being recorded and behave.

Let me tell you something else I learned about video surveillance. People quickly forget it’s there and act the way they would if it wasn’t there. I had several incidents where corrections officers, who knew everything was on video because it was part of their job to monitor it, break policy or lose their composure with an inmate and then look sad when I showed them the video.