IP camera protection
Many can cope with the installation themselves, but as practice shows, not everyone can cope with the protection of an IP camera. In the number of connected to the network and unprotected IP cameras, you can find out Using the hacker search engine Shodan. With Shodan, you can also check your network and devices connected to it. For the advanced, here’s an article on how to use Shodan. I hope you figure it out.
So, in today’s article, I will give some practical tIPs to help you protect your IP cameras from hacking. Go!
Password Protecting IP Cameras
Many IP cameras do not have password protection by default. After the initial setup of such a camera, many people forget to go back and add password protection and eventually the surveillance cameras remain open for external access.
Protecting your IP camera from hacking
Most security cameras offer basic authentication. This is far from ideal in terms of safety, but still better than nothing. Protect your cameras with a username and strong password and change it periodically.
Turn on WPA2 encryption
If you use a wireless network to connect to the camera, then I recommend using connections with WPA2 encryption, this will improve the security of the IP camera and can prevent unauthorized access.
Search for vulnerabilities in IP cameras
You should often check the official website of the IP camera manufacturer for a new firmware release. But this does NOT guarantee that your IP camera is protected, since many manufacturers literally forget about updates and fixes to vulnerabilities of their devices. Therefore, you need to look for new vulnerabilities of your camera yourself.
Protecting your IP camera from hacking
You can use a search engine to find the vulnerability of an IP camera. Enter your surveillance camera model and add the word “vulnerability” or just “vuln”.
You can also use special services to search for vulnerabilities, such as cvedetails.com.
Default password and login
The default login and password set by the manufacturer are available to everyone, they can be easily found on the network. If you have NOT changed the administrator name and password, then even a child Using the default password will be able to hack your IP cameras, do not say already a professional hacker.
By the way, in the article “Passwords of default routers” we talked about how to find out the factory login and password of a router.
Protection of IP cameras from hacking
The IP surveillance camera industry has grown tremendously over the past few years. IP camera based surveillance installation technology is getting easier and simpler, and more and more people choose to do it on their own.
Keep your cameras on your local network
If security is your top priority, then you need to keep surveillance cameras on your local network and assign them non-routable internal IP addresses (e.g. 192.168.0.5 or something similar).
But even with non-routable IP addresses, your cameras can still be discovered by camera software that sets up port forwarding or uses UPNP to bring your cameras to the Internet.
I recommend going to the official website of your IP camera manufacturer to find out how to set up cameras without going online.
Camera firmware update
Most modern IP cameras are equIPped with upgradeable firmware. If a security vulnerability is found, the manufacturer of the IP camera fixes this vulnerability by posting a firmware update on the website. As a rule, the camera firmware is updated using the administration panel in the browser.
IP camera installation
Even if you think that you have provided all the camera protection measures in all the ways described in this article, keep in mind there is always a chance that your IP camera will be hacked, so if you DO NOT want to be a reality TV star without Installing a security camera in places where it should not be, for example, in the bathroom or in the bedroom.
That’s all. I hope this article will help you protect your surveillance camera. Know: securing an IP camera is not your will, it is your responsibility!
If you liked the article, you will please us if you share it with your friends. Who knows what problems this material can save them from.
Turn on WPA2 encryption
If you use a wireless network to connect to the camera, then I recommend using connections with WPA2 encryption, this will improve the security of the IP camera and can prevent unauthorized access.
Protection of IP cameras from hacking
The IP surveillance camera industry has grown tremendously over the past few years. IP camera based surveillance installation technology is getting easier and simpler, and more and more people choose to do it on their own.
Search for vulnerabilities in IP cameras
You should often check the official website of the IP camera manufacturer for a new firmware release. But this does NOT guarantee that your IP camera is protected, as many manufacturers literally forget about updates and fixes to the vulnerabilities of their devices. Therefore, you need to search for new vulnerabilities of your camera yourself.
Protecting your IP camera from hacking
You can use a search engine to find the vulnerability of an IP camera. Enter your surveillance camera model and add the word “vulnerability” or just “vuln”.
You can also use special services to search for vulnerabilities, such as cvedetails.com.
Password protection for IP cameras
Many IP cameras do not have password protection by default. After the initial setup of such a camera, many people forget to go back and add password protection, and eventually the surveillance cameras remain open for external access.
Protecting your IP camera from hacking
Most security cameras offer basic authentication. This is far from ideal in terms of safety, but still better than nothing. Protect your cameras with a username and strong password and change it periodically.
Keep your cameras on your local network
If security is your top priority, then you need to keep surveillance cameras on your local network and assign them non-routable internal IP addresses (e.g. 192.168.0.5 or something similar).
But even with non-routable IP addresses, your cameras can still be discovered by camera software that sets up port forwarding or uses UPNP to bring your cameras to the Internet.
I recommend going to the official website of your IP camera manufacturer to find out how to set up cameras without going online.
IP camera protection
Many can cope with the installation themselves, but as practice shows, not everyone can cope with the protection of an IP camera. The number of connected to the network and unprotected IP cameras you can find out Using the hacker search engine Shodan. With Shodan, you can also check your network and devices connected to it. For the advanced, here’s an article on how to use Shodan. I hope you figure it out.
So, in today’s article, I will give some practical tIPs to help you protect your IP cameras from hacking. Go!
Camera firmware update
Most modern IP cameras are equIPped with upgradeable firmware. If a security vulnerability is found, the manufacturer of the IP camera fixes this vulnerability by posting a firmware update on the website. As a rule, the camera firmware is updated using the administration panel in the browser.
Default password and login
The default login and password set by the manufacturer are available to everyone, they can be easily found on the network. If you have NOT changed the administrator name and password, then even a child Using the default password will be able to hack your IP cameras, do not say already a professional hacker.
By the way, in the article “Passwords of default routers” we talked about how to find out the factory login and password of a router.
IP camera installation
Even if you think that you have provided all the camera protection measures in all the ways described in this article, keep in mind there is always a chance that your IP camera will be hacked, so if you DO NOT want to be a reality TV star without Installing a security camera in places where it should not be, for example, in the bathroom or in the bedroom.
That’s all. I hope this article will help you protect your surveillance camera. Know: securing an IP camera is not your will, it is your responsibility!
If you liked the article, you will please us if you share it with your friends. Who knows what problems this material can save them from.
How to set up a Chinese IP camera?
When building their own home or office security system, many people purchase a Chinese IP camera. This choice is associated with the high quality of the equIPment, and with the ease of management and, of course, with the price. Before you can start using the device, you need to configure it. This task will not be difficult even for a non-specialist in IP equIPment.
Camera setup
The device of a tabletop camera is very simple. stand, body, antenna. The power supply unit of many Chinese devices is designed for the American type of power grids, so you will have to additionally purchase an adapter that allows you to connect different standards. On the back of the stand you can see inputs dedicated to various types of network equIPment.
To connect the camera to a computer and further configure it, you will need to find its IP addresses. It will need to be changed, since the standards for the local networks of the camera and home are different, but for the first acquaintance of the device and the home workstation, it will be needed. Most Chinese IP cameras have their IP addresses printed on a small plastic sticker on the box, so you shouldn’t throw it away. But more expensive devices come with a CD with the necessary software and a user manual, the IP address will be indicated there as well. Further, the sequence of actions will be as follows:
Copy the software to your hard drive (or, for some manufacturers, download the software from their website).
- Run the IPCamera program or another program that controls the device.
- Go to your computer’s settings, find the IP address of your own local network, it will look like 192.168.0.0. For the camera, the manufacturer most likely set addresses like 192.168.1.0. You can see that they differ in a single digit. It is necessary to combine a common address that matches the address of the camera and the network, it will look like 192.168.1.1.
- In the program, in the routing section, you must write the resulting result. At this moment, the program will see the camera, besides, the difference in network addresses did NOT provide this opportunity. Do not forget to focus on the statistical network settings, the manufacturer will indicate them in a format similar to 168.1.166. They will need to be saved and subsequently entered into the corresponding windows of the router.
- Open any browser and enter a new, self-generated camera address into the search bar. If the sequence of steps was correct, the program will offer a window with graphs for entering new values. At this moment, the user will need to enter the standard username and password. They will be indicated in the manul and, as a rule, it will be a username of the admin type and a simple or empty password.
- After entering the web interface of the camera, you will need to find a button like: “RTSP media stream (stream control)” (It allows you to enter the information stream sent via network protocols. When this setting is activated, it will give the stream address, which will look like, similar to the following: rtsp: //192.168.0.51: 554 / H264.
- Next, you need to launch VLC. In the window that opens, enter the proposed network address. The correct sequence of manIPulations leads to the fact that the image transmitted by the camera appears on the computer screen.
It is important that when launched through VLC, the appearance of the picture will be delayed by about a second compared to real time.
Not everyone is satisfied with the picture quality transmitted by a budget Chinese camera. It grows with difficulty, offers not the best color reproduction. You can customize it using the proposed GoPro software, the Media Settings: Quality and Rate sections will help you with this. It is quite easy to increase the sharpness of the image, color imperfections, if present, are more likely NOT to be changed.
Choosing a camera from China
The user is always interested in what opportunities a budget camera from the Celestial Empire can provide him with? In the price range up to 100, you can find high-quality digital equIPment equIPped with infrared illumination and a PTZ function, which, using a small motor, can provide remote camera rotation when tracking dynamically developing events. An example of good quality equIPment in this price range would be any desktop camera in the 80-100 price range. Additional advantages include:
- LAN function;
- Built-in microphone and speakers;
- Memory card support.
Configuring image reception via the browser
The user may find that it is impossible to configure the stream transmission not from the utility, but through the browser. Several additional steps will need to be taken. If you select Internet Explorer as your main browser, when you enter the control program using the “Activate via browser” link, it will become obvious that the image does NOT appear. It is important that other browsers Firefox or Chrome do not have some of the Explorer settings, so it is rather impossible to achieve image transfer through them.
It is necessary to configure another utility, OCX (ActiveX plugin). In the control program for the IP-camera, the button for setting it will appear in the upper right corner.
In this case, there may be a misunderstanding between the computer and the program, written in hieroglyphs, this task is solved by installing Player Setup with the removal of all unnecessary characters. If it simultaneously starts transmitting a stream through both channels, the problem with a second delay in image transmission can be solved, the image will begin to appear synchronously with reality.
The last step will be to configure the control of automatic camera rotation, the joystick button can be found in the program. Simple options of movement in different directions and functions of automatic horizontal or vertical patrol are used.
Self-configuration of the IP camera It will take NOT more than 30 minutes of the user’s time, but after completing all the necessary manIPulations, he can easily take advantage of all its capabilities, including two-way audio communication and the ability to record an image on a memory card.
SURVEILLANCE IP CAMERA INSTALLATION
In many ways, the process of installing an IP camera is NOT different from installing analog surveillance cameras. This applies to:
- Choice of installation site;
- The process of attaching the camera to the supporting structure;
- Laying of cable networks.
By the way, IP surveillance makes it easy to implement wireless systems. This makes it easy to install network cameras with your own hands.
When using wired connections, in addition to cameras, you will need to install network (IP) switches. On the one hand, this increases the volume of installation work. But digital surveillance allows several cameras to be connected to the same data line, so in general, some savings can even be achieved.
To process, view and store information received from IP cameras, you will need to install additional equIPment:
- Registrar;
- Or server.
For small systems, a personal computer (PC) can successfully act as the latter. I have already spoken about the necessity of using switches. Depending on the number of cameras to be installed, their technical characteristics and the required archive depth, the amount of storage media is determined.
Most often, a hard disk drive (HDD) is used for THESE purposes. You can roughly estimate its required capacity using this calculator.
By the way, IP surveillance is convenient in that it can be organized using only one camera, using the services of cloud services.
SURVEILLANCE camera settings
The rules for installing surveillance cameras may differ slightly depending on the operating conditions of the system.
For example, for outdoor cameras, installation requirements will be more stringent than for indoor cameras.
In general, the installation of cameras at home, in an office or other facility does not have significant differences. Therefore, despite the fact that each specific object has a number of its individual characteristics, there are general requirements, which, as a small instruction, are set out below.
Choosing a location
Here, probably, there can be more all GoPro contradictions, because at the same time it is necessary:
- Provide planned field of view,
- Eliminate or minimize the illumination of surveillance cameras,
- Provide protection of cameras from possible mechanical damage.
By the way, Possible flares should be considered Not only for street surveillance. All kinds of lamps, direct sunlight through the window can significantly degrade the image quality of cameras installed inside the premises.
When installing a system that records by motion detection, it is recommended to take into account the possible night illumination of internal surveillance cameras by headlights of passing vehicles. This can cause false triggering of the detector and recording “empty information”, which should be taken into account when calculating the depth of the archive.
Outdoor SURVEILLANCE camera settings
In addition to adverse weather effects, outdoor cameras have a high probability of mechanical damage.
They can be caused by foreign objects, such as falling icicles from the roof. Also, cameras can be disabled deliberately by persons planning an offense or out of hooliganism.
An attempt to prevent the latter by installing a surveillance camera in a hard-to-reach place. It will complicate its maintenance, and placement at a significant height. Will change the viewing angle. This can lead, for example, to difficulty distinguishing between faces (if the surveillance system has such a task).
One more recommendation. It is desirable to install outdoor surveillance cameras in such a way that each of them is controlled by at least one other.
Laying of connecting lines
Now for the connecting lines. When installing, avoid parallel routing of signal and power circuits at a distance of less than 50 centimeters. This is according to regulatory documents. In practice, especially for long lines, this distance should be maximized.
For signal transmission in analog surveillance systems over distances over 100 meters, it will be optimal to use NOT a coaxial cable, but a twisted pair.
Pay attention to the correct size of cables for powering surveillance cameras.
When installing outdoor cameras, it is necessary to provide for the protection of signal circuits from electrical, including atmospheric, interference, that is, use lightning protection.
SURVEILLANCE camera settings. QUESTION PRICE
I will disappoint the supporters of specifics right away. the price of installing the camera, as well as installing the surveillance system as a whole, is a rather relative value. This is determined by a number of factors, for example:
- The size of the system, in our case, the number of cameras;
- Length of connecting lines;
- Type of cameras;
- Appetite and requests of the installation organization, as well as the region of your GoPro.
As for the last point, despite the availability of for the performance of certain installation work, many indicate the cost of installation in the format: installation of a surveillance camera. from 3000 rubles. Personally, this approach disgusts me, so I suggest you a technique that will allow you to roughly (!) Estimate the price of installing a camera depending on specific conditions.
It all starts with attaching the camera. These works cost about 1200 rubles. Of course, if the installation is carried out at a high altitude or in other conditions that complicate the installation, then the price will be higher. IP cameras require the installation of a switch, so installation costs may increase due to this device.
Next comes the wiring. By and large, there is not a big difference in the parallel laying of several cables, as opposed to one. Therefore, I will indicate the amount charged per unit of measure for the length of the trunk set. However, a competent estimator can play both an increase and a decrease in on this type of work. keep this in mind.
So, the installation of 100 meters of connecting lines will cost an average of 7,000 to 15,000 rubles. The cost of cutting a cable and installing connectors against this background is insignificant, so I omit it.
As for the surveillance cameras, that’s all. If you are interested in the price of installing the surveillance system as a whole, then you should additionally add the cost of installation and configuration:
- Registrar. about 5,000 rubles;
- Power supply unit. about 2000 rubles.
Additional costs may require various nuances, for example, installing a lightning protection for street surveillance, but all this is decided on site. In general, the order of should be something like this. If you find it cheaper, good.
If you are unreasonably counted 2-3 times more, and after you refer to this material, they will roughly suggest contacting its author on installation issues. better look for another contractor.
© 2014-2020 G. All rights reserved.
Site materials are for informational purposes only and cannot be used as guidelines and regulatory documents.