I bought a couple Blink Wired Floodlight cameras from Best Buy for 50 bucks a piece. Didn't know I had to have a smart phone to make them work. So for an extra hundred I got a smart phone, joined Planet Fitness, you need a smart fone for that too. Got the Blink wired camera working a couple weeks ago. You have to run an app on your phone to see it. So I would like to display it on an NVR. Anybody got any ideas? I look on my router for an ip address, it doesn't see it. arp -a doesn't show it, but it required a wireless login to work. I don't have any port forwarding on my router but while I'm away from the house I can see the camera? How does this thing work? The floodlights are adequate for my application which is why I bought them. I have other cameras that cover the property, but WTF?
Blink Cameras
- Thread starter jrczz
- Start date
You gotta buy stuff that is ONVIF compliant and not proprietary, only work on their platform.
You are able to see the camera because that app is using P2P, which is just a smidge better than port forwarding but still not safe.
Further with an NVR, it is best to match brand of NVR and cameras (or manufacturer OEM).
So who makes your NVR?
You are able to see the camera because that app is using P2P, which is just a smidge better than port forwarding but still not safe.
Further with an NVR, it is best to match brand of NVR and cameras (or manufacturer OEM).
So who makes your NVR?
The fact that you know how to use arp -a but wasn't aware of P2P is what puzzles me more than anything.
I have 4 NVRS the first I bought was a Swann 8 port. 8580 something. In the Homesafe utility it ask what type of camera Swann or HIK Vision. HMMM. I have an HIK vision 4 port I got from a guy in Huntington WV with 3 HIK Vision Cameras and one AMcrest PTL. I wanted the PTL camera the rest was a bonus. About a year ago my DVR that covers my garage got real nasty so I bought 2 Harbour Freight Cobra 8 port NVR's with 2 cameras each for 125.00 per unit on sale. Hooked up 4 4k cameras and 1 nvr for 250 dollars plus 7% tax. The Cobra NVR hooked up with the AMCrest camera right off, used onvif also allows me to import the cameras from the Swann unit. The last one is the left over Cobra, new in the box, just used the 2 cameras. The HIK Vision allows for just about any protocol. But it is only 4 ports. I understand what you say p2p in general but have no idea exactly how that works with the cameras. Played with adhoc a bit when it was first available. I tend to run on. Blink offers a recording service for fee. If they can do it, I should be able to do it.
Ring offers a recording service for a fee, but you can't record it either outside of their system.
That is how the consumer grade Blink and Ring and Arlo get people - with proprietary software/firmware - wanna use it or be able to record it - then you pay a monthly fee for it.
I read an article once where someone was able to pull a Ring feed up on the computer and then screen record that, but Ring got wise to that and now limits the amount of live viewing before it shuts the feed down.
So you either use the Blink app or return and get cameras that will work with your "NVRs"...
That is how the consumer grade Blink and Ring and Arlo get people - with proprietary software/firmware - wanna use it or be able to record it - then you pay a monthly fee for it.
I read an article once where someone was able to pull a Ring feed up on the computer and then screen record that, but Ring got wise to that and now limits the amount of live viewing before it shuts the feed down.
So you either use the Blink app or return and get cameras that will work with your "NVRs"...
Thanks for the info. I am largely self educated, driven by need. There are large gaps in my education based on information I have not needed to accomplish my objectives. Sometimes I stumble into a gem of information. Here's one. I have a Asus GT-Ac5300 Router. It will function as a VPN client. Just about all routers will do VPN server but this one will function as a client. The big problem with VPNs in general is the other players out there don't like that you have a vpn. For that reason you are constantly switching the vpn on and off in your computer. Using VPN Fusion in this ASUS router you may select which devices use which vpns. Set up your old router behind the ASUS GT-AC5300, Route your old router to your vpn, you may have many, and any traffic that goes through that router will be on the vpn. I won't argue that vpns are safe. They may be CIA fronts in large portion, but they should get you past any copyright issues you might worry about. Further if you use a generic, unmodified copy of Knoppix and change your mac address, it should give you even more piece of mind. I have never tried Onion so I can't speak to that. Just getting into IP cameras. I admit my ignorance but there is a learning curve. Thank you for the information, peer to peer bears some looking at.
You are mixing up the types of VPNs.
There are the paid VPNs (NordVPN, ExpressVPN, etc.) that hide/mask your IP address for illegal video streaming and porno addictions LOL. These are the ones some companies don't like and some refuse to allow you to connect because they know you are spoofing your location.
Then there are self-hosted VPNs like what the Asus router allows you to do. These are free. This is a a VPN that YOU host and allows you to VPN back into YOUR network when away from home to access your network and your internet when not home. This one doesn't "hide" your IP in the same sense as the paid versions. But it allows you to be on the Starbuck free wifi and VPN back into your home internet for safe browsing.
Regardless, neither option will allow a proprietary IP camera from working in a platform other than their own.
There are the paid VPNs (NordVPN, ExpressVPN, etc.) that hide/mask your IP address for illegal video streaming and porno addictions LOL. These are the ones some companies don't like and some refuse to allow you to connect because they know you are spoofing your location.
Then there are self-hosted VPNs like what the Asus router allows you to do. These are free. This is a a VPN that YOU host and allows you to VPN back into YOUR network when away from home to access your network and your internet when not home. This one doesn't "hide" your IP in the same sense as the paid versions. But it allows you to be on the Starbuck free wifi and VPN back into your home internet for safe browsing.
Regardless, neither option will allow a proprietary IP camera from working in a platform other than their own.
Yes that would be the paid vpn, you know as a "client" on Express or Nord vpn, the server, to which I am addressing. Set up this way you simply have to log into the wireless router behind your Asus Router to use the vpn. When you want off the vpn just log into the Asus wireless connection. In the Self hosted vpn you are right that's exactly how it works and your router at your house or business is the server and your laptop at Starbucks is the client so you can look at your porn or other content while enjoying a coffee.lol . So while at Starbucks couldn't you log into your NVR through your VPN tunnel?
Yes, that is the whole point of hosting a VPN, so that you can VPN back into your network and then log into your NVR and thus keeping the NVR off the internet.
BUT, that still doesn't get around the question at hand and dealing with a consumer based product that requires an internet connection and their proprietary software to work.
VPNs don't magically allow these proprietary devices to work and be able to work in other systems.
BUT, that still doesn't get around the question at hand and dealing with a consumer based product that requires an internet connection and their proprietary software to work.
VPNs don't magically allow these proprietary devices to work and be able to work in other systems.
Flintstone61
Known around here
WTF is this guy trying to do? Might as well get a Midland 40 channel CB hooked up while your at it.
Dude...Blink is trash for what your trying to do.
You almost sound like your making up a tall tale to get a reaction.
Dude...Blink is trash for what your trying to do.
You almost sound like your making up a tall tale to get a reaction.
Well there is no graceful way to back away from my ignorance so I won't. I have a Radioshack 40 channel CB in my truck, I bought in 1979 that still works. As to what I am trying to do as you get older your goals become muddled. I got the Blink floodlight cameras to use as floodlights but found out that the floodlights won't work if the camera doesn't work. So as floodlights they meet my needs, but the camera doesn't show up on my wireless network and so I wonder why, and since it works without any port forwarding, how does it work? The vpn stuff is off subject and is an example, only of they kind of stuff I find out while investigating. The ASUS router functions as a client. Very few router do, but most will function as a server. VPNs can be a pia so this provides an easy way to log on and off your VPN just by changing your wireless connection. If you don't use a vpn such a VPNExpress, or Nord the information is completely useless to you. I will figure out how Blink Gets it data onto the WWW but right now I am completely perplexed by it. I thought someone here might know. When I find out I'll come back and tell you.
I told you how Blink gets your video to the internet and allows you to see it - it is using P2P. And without talking to their servers, the system won't work.
It is slightly safer than port forwarding, but not by much. You are putting all your faith in some company to have proper security in place, and ironically security cameras are not very secure on the internet. It is why we advocate here to not by any camera that needs an internet connection.
Hackers don't care about your camera feed. Hackers use a vulnerable device (NVR) that has ZERO protection on it to get into your LAN and either scrape it for bank info or use your ISP as a bot for DDoS attacks.
The P2P/QR code/port forwarding is how they are gaining access.
There are lots of examples where the security devices (ironic isn't it) are not very secure from the internet and pass information unencrypted before the P2P handshake begins...
Millions of people around the world want the simplicity of Internet of Things (IoTs) to be easy to connect to their system and work. They do not want to deal with security. They wrongfully assume that because they bought it and all they have to do is scan a QR code, that all is good. A manufacturer also doesn't want to deal with endless phone calls from consumers asking how to set something up, so they make it easy.
So these companies create these QR codes/P2P and magically the new device can be seen on the consumers app. Consumer is happy. But, this device has opened up the system to gain easy access to your entire network.
I have a friend that falls under this "I just want to plug it in and scan a code and it works" mindset. Many years ago she bought a Foscam wifi camera to monitor her front door. She plugged it in and pointed it out a 2nd story window and downloaded the Foscam app and scanned the QR code and magically she could see her camera through the magic of P2P.
A few years later she bought a wifi printer and again, simply downloaded the app from the manufacturer and scanned the QR code and she could start printing.
One time in the middle of the night, she hears her printer printing a page. She thinks maybe she is dreaming or hearing things, so she thinks nothing of it and goes back to sleep. Next morning she gets up and indeed her printer did print something in the middle of the night and the printed page says I SEE YOU and a picture of her from her Foscam camera was below the text.
She changes her wifi password in case it was the peeping perv next door that she has caught looking at her from through her window and he guessed her password, which was password because she liked things simple.
Problem still persists. She goes into Foscam app and changes the password to the camera. Problem still persists. She gets a new router and sets up a stronger password for wifi and changed the passwords of all of her devices. Problem still persists. She gets rid of camera and printer.
At some point Foscam issues a security vulnerability and issued a firmware update. Basically the vulnerability was something like when logging into the camera with a web browser over HTTPS, the initial login to the P2P site is done using SSL. But then it establishes a connection to the HTTPS port again (for the media service) and sends all of its commands unencrypted. This means the username and passwords are being sent unencrypted. While this was a security vulnerability found in Foscam, I suspect it is in others as well. I suspect this is how my friend was hacked and someone was sending pictures of her taken from her Foscam camera to her wifi printer that she set up using the QR code.
Many articles on this site and out on the internet show how vulnerable these devices can be. I remember seeing an article of a webpage showing like 75,000 video streams around the world that were hacked into because of these vulnerabilities. I know there is an article someone on this forum where someone posted that many of these cameras do send passwords totally unencrypted and wide open easy to see for anyone knowing what they are doing.
Do not assume that because it is a name brand that they actually have good security on these cameras or any device for that matter. Think about the typical end-user that just wants simplicity to connect. And then think how a company would go about that to provide that simplicity. End result is to provide that simplicity, it comes at a cost and that cost is security vulnerabilities, which is ironic for security cameras. But if it can happen to Amazon/Ring (which is a fairly large company), it can happen to anyone, especially all the no-name brands being sold on Amazon.
For that reason, most of us here prevent our systems from having access to the internet.
It is slightly safer than port forwarding, but not by much. You are putting all your faith in some company to have proper security in place, and ironically security cameras are not very secure on the internet. It is why we advocate here to not by any camera that needs an internet connection.
Hackers don't care about your camera feed. Hackers use a vulnerable device (NVR) that has ZERO protection on it to get into your LAN and either scrape it for bank info or use your ISP as a bot for DDoS attacks.
The P2P/QR code/port forwarding is how they are gaining access.
There are lots of examples where the security devices (ironic isn't it) are not very secure from the internet and pass information unencrypted before the P2P handshake begins...
Millions of people around the world want the simplicity of Internet of Things (IoTs) to be easy to connect to their system and work. They do not want to deal with security. They wrongfully assume that because they bought it and all they have to do is scan a QR code, that all is good. A manufacturer also doesn't want to deal with endless phone calls from consumers asking how to set something up, so they make it easy.
So these companies create these QR codes/P2P and magically the new device can be seen on the consumers app. Consumer is happy. But, this device has opened up the system to gain easy access to your entire network.
I have a friend that falls under this "I just want to plug it in and scan a code and it works" mindset. Many years ago she bought a Foscam wifi camera to monitor her front door. She plugged it in and pointed it out a 2nd story window and downloaded the Foscam app and scanned the QR code and magically she could see her camera through the magic of P2P.
A few years later she bought a wifi printer and again, simply downloaded the app from the manufacturer and scanned the QR code and she could start printing.
One time in the middle of the night, she hears her printer printing a page. She thinks maybe she is dreaming or hearing things, so she thinks nothing of it and goes back to sleep. Next morning she gets up and indeed her printer did print something in the middle of the night and the printed page says I SEE YOU and a picture of her from her Foscam camera was below the text.
She changes her wifi password in case it was the peeping perv next door that she has caught looking at her from through her window and he guessed her password, which was password because she liked things simple.
Problem still persists. She goes into Foscam app and changes the password to the camera. Problem still persists. She gets a new router and sets up a stronger password for wifi and changed the passwords of all of her devices. Problem still persists. She gets rid of camera and printer.
At some point Foscam issues a security vulnerability and issued a firmware update. Basically the vulnerability was something like when logging into the camera with a web browser over HTTPS, the initial login to the P2P site is done using SSL. But then it establishes a connection to the HTTPS port again (for the media service) and sends all of its commands unencrypted. This means the username and passwords are being sent unencrypted. While this was a security vulnerability found in Foscam, I suspect it is in others as well. I suspect this is how my friend was hacked and someone was sending pictures of her taken from her Foscam camera to her wifi printer that she set up using the QR code.
Many articles on this site and out on the internet show how vulnerable these devices can be. I remember seeing an article of a webpage showing like 75,000 video streams around the world that were hacked into because of these vulnerabilities. I know there is an article someone on this forum where someone posted that many of these cameras do send passwords totally unencrypted and wide open easy to see for anyone knowing what they are doing.
Do not assume that because it is a name brand that they actually have good security on these cameras or any device for that matter. Think about the typical end-user that just wants simplicity to connect. And then think how a company would go about that to provide that simplicity. End result is to provide that simplicity, it comes at a cost and that cost is security vulnerabilities, which is ironic for security cameras. But if it can happen to Amazon/Ring (which is a fairly large company), it can happen to anyone, especially all the no-name brands being sold on Amazon.
For that reason, most of us here prevent our systems from having access to the internet.
Thank you for your in depth reply, and so quickly, you got lightning fingers. You have convinced me to remove the Blink Camera from my outbuilding and put up a plain old floodlight. Thank you for that. I will return the unopened one to Best Buy and this one will go into my junk pile. I bought the Smart Phone to do this and to join Planet Fitness but I will remove the Blink App. Might go back to a flip phone when the weather changes. Thanks again.
alastairstevenson
Staff member
Quite right, and Hikvision is a great example, the largest CCTV manufacturer globally.
@jrczz
You experienced one of their security failures yourself!
HIK Vision Cameras
I have 2 HIK Vision cameras I would like to restore to the default password and username 12345 and admin. I want to use them on a Cobra NVR from Harbor Freight. I have the configuration files downloaded from the cameras by using http:///System/configurationFile?auth=YWRtaW46MTEK. I have tried...
mat200
IPCT Contributor
- Jan 17, 2017
- 15,034
- 25,343
Yes, largely out of curiosity but they do now all work. Do you remember the movie, "Silence of the Lambs". I have a friend that bought a house on the Elk River not far from where Buffalo Bill, deposited his "hump", according to the story. The house had security cameras, Swann SWSHD-810CAM 720 coax cameras. Is there a Sister web sight for coax cameras? I took a Samsung DVR up there and hooked it up to see if the cameras work and none did. I hooked one directly into the DVR and it did not work so assume this to be a compatibility issue.. The DVR was a SWHDR-88050H Which was recovered from the grandson of the prior owner but no power supply. Probably used it to supply his Midland CB Radio. 5Amp 12 volts with a four prong plug, he'd a had to cut the plug off but it should work . Anyway The cam cables are run through the vents and there is a crawl space with water issues, I don't want to rewire it and she would prefer cheap to free which I am not opposed to. I likely can get the DVR to work but believe the safety fuse is in the power supply and would not want to hook it up unfused or even non-Underwriter's Laboratory. A new compatible with the cameras, DVR would be the best choice if I can find out what that is. If there is a sister site with people as knowledgeable as you guys, Someone will know. Thanks.Quite right, and Hikvision is a great example, the largest CCTV manufacturer globally.
@jrczz
You experienced one of their security failures yourself!
HIK Vision Cameras
I have 2 HIK Vision cameras I would like to restore to the default password and username 12345 and admin. I want to use them on a Cobra NVR from Harbor Freight. I have the configuration files downloaded from the cameras by using http:///System/configurationFile?auth=YWRtaW46MTEK. I have tried...www.ipcamtalk.com
NVR's and they work great. I have not got the HIK VISION cams working on this NVR(works on the HIK VISION NVR) yet but I've been busy doing other things. When things slow down I will give it a go.
IT'S ALIVE. I cleaned it up, the hard drive was bad. Where they broke off 2 connectors the cameras don't work may be able to solder new ones in if I can figure out if they are terminating or straight through. Also I have the power supply issue to deal with, I got something scabbed in to get it 12 volts now i'll have to get something safe. Turns out this is 720 hd-sdi and everything is expensive so if this can't work She'll be better with something new and cheap.
mat200
IPCT Contributor
- Jan 17, 2017
- 15,034
- 25,343
Thanks ..
hmmm .. this is a Cobra DVR kit ..
ah . here's a IP PoE camera ..
and here's the kit .. lol cameras mounted upside down from normal installation in this picture ..
( brim is typically mounted to help keep water drops of the lens .. )
wait .. is it really an NVR ? looks like a special DVR that uses NVR hdds .. lol
Harbor Freight .. man, need to watch closely as some of their pictures do not match ..
and other picture .. wait .. did that camera change .. why yes ..
