Wireless IP Security Camera's
Author
Discussion

Gandalf Beckwith

Original Poster:

205 posts

254 months

Monday 5th February 2007
quotequote all
Dear PH Collective,

Following one or 2 undesirables recently making my neighbourhood a regular stomping ground of theirs I'm debating buying a couple of (cheapish) wireless IP webcams to use as an extra layer of defence.

Anyone got any expereince of doing so, and any useful advice, recommendations, software tips etc? I've noticed that many of the cameras are "motion activiated" - I'm debating putting one of these just inside a glass panel alongside the fron door to capture anyone approaching. Anyone know if the "motion detect" will still work through glass?

arfur

4,016 posts

245 months

Monday 5th February 2007
quotequote all
I put in cameras in my office a year or so ago ... caught a burgalar red handed ... plod were very happy !!

Also use them in my shops. So far not needed the output, but it's good quality

Linksys WVC54G cams and Active Webcam Software .... Cheap and cheeful but fully featured. Wireless, Motion, Remote access etc etc

hope that helps

Arf

puggit

49,829 posts

279 months

Monday 5th February 2007
quotequote all
Arfur, do you have a link?

Gandalf Beckwith

Original Poster:

205 posts

254 months

Monday 5th February 2007
quotequote all
Thanks Arfur - link would be great....

Tonsko

6,299 posts

246 months

Monday 5th February 2007
quotequote all
I've heard of these before - what security protocol do they use?

cuneus

5,963 posts

273 months

Monday 5th February 2007
quotequote all
arfur said:
I put in cameras in my office a year or so ago ... caught a burgalar red handed ... plod were very happy !!

Also use them in my shops. So far not needed the output, but it's good quality

Linksys WVC54G cams and Active Webcam Software .... Cheap and cheeful but fully featured. Wireless, Motion, Remote access etc etc

hope that helps

Arf


And just looked up the price - now £70 - order placed

Thanks

www.pcpro.co.uk/reviews/74218/linksys-wvc54g-wirelessg-internet-video-camera.html



Edited by cuneus on Monday 5th February 16:19

vex

5,259 posts

277 months

Monday 5th February 2007
quotequote all
Technically, the words security and wireless in the same sentence causes an oxi-moron!

arfur

4,016 posts

245 months

Tuesday 6th February 2007
quotequote all
vex said:
Technically, the words security and wireless in the same sentence causes an oxi-moron!



The cams use WEP or WPA .... so fairly secure if you use WPA ... Also dont forget to use MAC security on the wireless router as well

Tonsko

6,299 posts

246 months

Tuesday 6th February 2007
quotequote all
vex said:
Technically, the words security and wireless in the same sentence causes an oxi-moron!


I agree with Arfur. WPA is sufficient. WPA-2 is even better though!

vex

5,259 posts

277 months

Tuesday 6th February 2007
quotequote all
Search for the Real Hustle tv program that hacks wireless from a van in about 15mins.

IIRC it had WPA/WEP and Mac Address protection, also when recommending these newer, higher levels of security dont forget that some people have older (and they dont have to be that old) routers and pc's that dont offer WPA only WEP

Our old router and one of the laptops were only 4 years old and didn't offer WPA so had to stick with WEP and Mac.

arfur

4,016 posts

245 months

Tuesday 6th February 2007
quotequote all
vex said:
Search for the Real Hustle tv program that hacks wireless from a van in about 15mins.

IIRC it had WPA/WEP and Mac Address protection, also when recommending these newer, higher levels of security dont forget that some people have older (and they dont have to be that old) routers and pc's that dont offer WPA only WEP

Our old router and one of the laptops were only 4 years old and didn't offer WPA so had to stick with WEP and Mac.


It only works if the AP name is visible ....

Tonsko

6,299 posts

246 months

Tuesday 6th February 2007
quotequote all
WEP is crackable as they showed in that Real Hustle program. WPA is not.

arfur

4,016 posts

245 months

Wednesday 7th February 2007
quotequote all
Tonsko said:
WEP is crackable as they showed in that Real Hustle program. WPA is not.


They are all hackable eventually, but you need to see A LOT of data in order to see the repetitions and have A LOT of patience ! And in my case, in retail, why anyone would want to crack the WPA to watch the inside of a shop is totally beyond me !

Tonsko

6,299 posts

246 months

Wednesday 7th February 2007
quotequote all
The most important thing is that WPA allows you to use a key length that makes password cracking nigh on impossible, especially a non-dictionary password, WEP chooses a poor & short key.

So - to recap, your key (and all my wireless keys are like this) should be something like "Hk09Lphs$ghsw2LK56i£asTR238nbc$4". It doesn't take long to type it in, and once it's in your router, it's no problem to transcribe it into whatever wants to connect. You can also be re-assured that no-one is gonna crack that. Unless they have a seriously fast machine and a looooooooooong time

arfur

4,016 posts

245 months

Wednesday 7th February 2007
quotequote all
Tonsko said:
The most important thing is that WPA allows you to use a key length that makes password cracking nigh on impossible, especially a non-dictionary password, WEP chooses a poor & short key.

So - to recap, your key (and all my wireless keys are like this) should be something like "Hk09Lphs$ghsw2LK56i£asTR238nbc$4". It doesn't take long to type it in, and once it's in your router, it's no problem to transcribe it into whatever wants to connect. You can also be re-assured that no-one is gonna crack that. Unless they have a seriously fast machine and a looooooooooong time


My point exactly ...

vex

5,259 posts

277 months

Wednesday 7th February 2007
quotequote all
Isn't that what the Germans thought with enigma!

(Sorry - I'm a station-x, bletchley park fanatic)

arfur

4,016 posts

245 months

Wednesday 7th February 2007
quotequote all
vex said:
Isn't that what the Germans thought with enigma!

(Sorry - I'm a station-x, bletchley park fanatic)


Everything is hackable if you have the right tools .... might be a computer, might be a piece of paper, could be extorsion, bribery, and most of all .... time

arfur

4,016 posts

245 months

Wednesday 7th February 2007
quotequote all
arfur said:
Tonsko said:
WEP is crackable as they showed in that Real Hustle program. WPA is not.


They are all hackable eventually, but you need to see A LOT of data in order to see the repetitions and have A LOT of patience ! And in my case, in retail, why anyone would want to crack the WPA to watch the inside of a shop is totally beyond me !


Just occurred to me ... maybe if I point the cams into the changing rooms then there will be a queue of vans outside trying to get footage of some old lady !!! eeeugh