this post was submitted on 09 Sep 2023
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Stop using cloud-connected cameras!!!!
But How can I see stuff remotely?
Best way would be to set up a VPN that lets you connect to your home network remotely, and set up cameras that are only connected to your LAN
I believe these types of cameras are used often by the average person. I don't believe the average person would know how to set up a VPN
Either you have the know how (or the willingness to acquire it), or you pay someone with the know how. If you half-ass a solution with an AliExpress camera, you deserve what's coming to you.
what is coming for me exactly?
One of my neighbors has a completely open camera in their front yard lol. I've left a note on the door giving them a heads up but I guess they don't care or don't know what to do about it. I only know because my app is always adding their stupid camera when it "detects a new device" and I have to go in and remove it every time. So far their cOnsEQuenCeS have just been me briefly admiring their pretty garden the first time I noticed it and opened the camera to figure out who it was and warn them lol. If someone got into mine I hope they enjoy the random feral cats wandering through my ugly barren yard 🤷♀️
I'd never leave any camera inside my home it would creep me out too much. I don't see what harm the cams facing the exterior entrances to my house could possibly cause.
Loss of privacy, network violations
Prob not a beginner project, which is why people buy cloud based.
By the time you get everything going you will no longer be a beginner. If you’re ready for that kind of undertaking check out MactelecomNetworks on YouTube.
Just keep in mind that you're on lemmy and the people here tend to be very enthusiastic about things like this this that may or may not be very doable or necessary for the average individual
Tailscale (which is open source) can host an entry point for a home VPN for you. Better security would be to host it yourself, which they also have instructions on how to set up, but even having them host is a security upgrade from using standard cloud cameras.
Pretty sure tailscale isn't open source in any meaningful way.
Doesn't that require a home server that runs 24/7, or is this something I can do from my TP-Link router without having to flash custom firmware?
If you can, it'll be in the router's web console under something named like "VPN Server." You'll need a higher end router to have that function built in, though.
You'd need to pay for an external server and domain name, but that's generally cheaper than paying cloud subscriptions. You can also use Tailscale, which can host the VPN entry infrastructure without being able to see your traffic (depending on how much you trust them).
How is an external server any different from cloud storage, which runs on external servers? You still don't have control over the machine. Why can't I just run this off my router?
You can run it off your router, I don't know why he keeps shilling tailscale. I don't know about your router specifically, but any non-low tier one should have the functionality (my 60€ mikrotik does, but it's horrible to set up); or you could use any old raspberry pi.
tailscale
I have a camera connected to a raspberry pi running motioneye, remote connect to it with pitunnel, works pretty well.
You don't need to ffs people existed before this tech.
Do you realize how silly a thing that is to say? People existed before literally all technology. How you feel about the necessity of the invention is literally irrelevant to the conversation.
Using Lorex right now but I don't really know how it works. Some type of NVR setup but allows for remote viewing on their app. I think it's just sending video to lorex servers so we can stream on phone but don't know if they're saving the feed on their end or not. Haven't heard any bad things from this brand so I hope it's safe. Too lazy to do all the tailscale stuff.