Internal Security Camera possibility and privacy advice, please

ih8stress

Hi,

I need to set up some sort of camera to alert me to visitors, parcels, security etc.
There is already a Ring doorbell but it does not cover my part of the house and I do not have any control or access to it (I live with family but separately).

I am not sure if I would be able to attach a Ring doorbell of my own to the front of the house and it would not be possible to put up an external security camera.

So I was wondering about putting an internal security camera on the windowsill at the front (I know that these can be affected by glare and need the IR lights turning off - there should be enough external lighting at the front of the house for this to work).
One of my concerns about internal cameras is the security/privacy aspect of it - hearing horror stories of them being hacked and people being watched, listened in to etc.

Is this a genuine concern? and if so, can anything be done to eliminate this risk?
For example if the camera is always pointing to the outside, would that prevent anything inside being seen?
Is there any way to switch off the microphone/audio, which would not be necessary but seems to be in most of them?

I would want it to record locally onto an SD Card, not on the Cloud and also need alerts to my phone.

I would prefer a 'branded' camera to trial first, but not one costing hundreds of pounds

Thanks in advance for any useful suggestions

(I have just noticed another thread whilst posting this about the IR issue)

Glad

My other half and I been really impressed with the Tapo cameras. They aren't expensive, record locally to an SD card, send alerts to your phone, and you don't have to pay for cloud storage unless you want to.

Mine are set up with local recording and I've found them very reliable. We even used them through a bedroom window when the main cameras gave up and we were going away. We have just bought the solar powered outdoor ones and the quality is excellent.

As for security, I think the main thing is to use a strong unique password on your account, enable two-factor authentication if available, keep the firmware up to date, and turn off any features you don't need. Many cameras also let you disable the microphone if you don't want audio.

If you're pointing it out of a window, you might need to turn off the infrared LED or they'll just reflect off the glass at night. If there's enough outside lighting, that usually isn't a problem.

For what you're describing, I'd certainly be looking at one of the Tapo indoor cameras as a starting point.

debitcardmayhem

What , you still get visitors🤣, hope you are well. I bought a tapo doorbell last week, D235(or D23) works well so far and saves to micro sd. I haven"t taken the cloud option(yet) waiting to see if i need it.

Have you got a shared front door ? not clear what you meant by that.

QrizB

There's another live thread on a similar topic:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6676158/window-camera

Maybe give that one a read?

Ergates

A camera can only "see"/record in the direction it is facing. So unless the camera can be remotely rotated (which some cameras do - but you'd generally pay more for that anyway) then it would not be able to record anything inside.

The easiest way to prevent it from "listening" would be to get a camera without a microphone - this should also make it cheaper.

The stories of peoples devices being hacked are usually from people who have failed to carry out the most basic security steps in wireless devices - e.g. failing to change the default password. If GCHQ want to hack into your home network there is little you can do to prevent them, but to keep some bored teenager away is not hard.

As with any camera (including Ring ones) - your main concern should be making sure you're not invading other peoples privacy. e.g. make sure the angle of it can only pick up people on your property.

born_again

We have 8 Blink camera's in house. They only record on scheduled times. But you can access by the app if needed.

Not worried about vistors. More the dogs.

ih8stress

Thanks @Glad - I have actually been looking at some of the Tapo ones (TC60 and C110) and seen some youtube videos with LifeHackster and others.

@debitcardmayhem - Hello 👋 my friend, still as cheeky as ever, I see, ha ha. I'm still plodding along just about, hope you are doing well.

I used to have a shared front door but now have my own, separate 'front' door but it is at the side of the house now so unfortunately a doorbell would be useless. I have a room facing the front driveway, which is where I would have the camera, on the windowsill.

@QrizB - thanks, that is the thread that I mentioned at the end of my post, will have another look

@Ergates - thank you for confirming it would only record where it is pointing to ie. outside. Looking at the Tapo cameras as an example, it seems I would be able to disable the microphone in the App.

If it is on my windowsill, it would be directed at the driveway, though would possibly pick up people walking past the house

@born_again - thank you, I will check them out.

Many thanks to everyone for the suggestions so far, much appreciated as ever 😊

debitcardmayhem

If the parcels/visitors are coming to your door then that is the best place surely , or are you more interested in monitoring the driveway?

Farway

If it is on my windowsill, it would be directed at the driveway, though would possibly pick up people walking past the house The Tapo I have allows me to adjust the sensitivity so it is not triggered by, for instance, people walking by

Frozen_up_north

I have a cheap (£19.99 from Amazon) Tapo camera viewing the inside of the door to keep an eye on post when I am away, I wouldn't spend much to do that but it's been very useful.

I also have a PIR triggered driveway alarm to alert me to visitors/snoopers while in the house, as the front area of the house/drive/lawn is open. The alarm is quite loud and audible outside too, unfortunately cats and birds trigger it at times, but overall it is very useful.

ih8stress

@debitcardmayhem A bit more detail, complicated situation but basically my 'front' door is at the side of the house via a locked gate (which I prefer, for security reasons) and hence why a doorbell would be useless.

The only way I can access parcels etc. at present is by 'tracking' them, visitors are rare but will text/ring in advance.

So I need to be able to see the front of the house (without becoming a 'curtain twitcher'), and be alerted on my phone, so that I don't miss anything.

@Farway Hopefully I would be able to adjust the sensitivity enough to block off passers-by, without just seeing the 'legs' of visitors/delivery people etc (unfortunately I wouldn't know until I get one) 🤣

@Frozen_up_north unfortunately one of those alarms wouldn't work for me as my family are in and out all the time and would trigger it - and I probably still wouldn't hear it anyway with my 'cloth ears' (fellow northerner 😉)