Wifi security cameras are wireless IP cameras that can be connected and controlled via a mobile app on smartphones, tablets, and computers.
Let's review the basics for its proper functioning and discover how to get the most out of it to keep your home protected.
Example of the Xiaomi 360° camera
Basic concepts about Wifi cameras
WiFi IP cameras are security cameras that contain a small WiFi router, which gives them their own IP address; each camera has its own unique IP address.
This IP address is a set of numbers that identifies the device across the network.
Cameras are composed of a lens, an image sensor, image processors, among other things.
They differ from traditional CCTV systems in that Wi-Fi cameras can send images directly to the network, offering superior video quality and greater data transmission range. They only require a power source and a stable Wi-Fi connection. They can also use an Ethernet cable for more reliable and faster data transmission, or they can be entirely wireless, depending solely on the signal strength.
Secure wireless transmission
The IP camera installed in your home sends the signals captured by your home Wi-Fi.
A good wireless security protocol helps protect the video signals captured by cameras as they travel to the router. Therefore, it's important to look for cameras that are compatible with the WPA2 security protocol.
Not all cameras offer the same levels of security for video transmission. You need to look for a camera that encrypts your information, including your username, password, and live video feed. Check the label on the box to see what type of protection protocol it uses; this information is usually found on the box, in the manual, or sometimes even in the app itself.
Look for a camera that encodes its signal and protects you from intrusions.
Control the camera from your smartphone or tablet
Multiple users
If the intention is to authorize multiple users to access the signals captured by the camera, it would be wise to consider purchasing a camera that allows for different access levels. For example, some cameras allow advanced configurations so that administrators can remotely change functions, create new accounts, change passwords, adjust the camera's orientation, and restrict access to certain users. For instance, you might want a family member to monitor your home while you're away on vacation, but you might want to restrict their access to the camera when they're near the house.
It's important to keep the software updated
The software that comes with your camera requires regular updates. It's important to register your camera, subscribe to email updates, or activate notifications to receive alerts about available updates and keep your software up to date. Before installing your camera, it's important to visit the manufacturer's website to see if any new versions are available, as well as the App Store for the latest updates on your smartphone or tablet. Many of these updates fix bugs or security-related errors, so it's always advisable to have the latest version.
Use a strong password
When you create a user account, it's usually linked to a backup email address in case you lose or forget your password. It's important to choose a strong password that's difficult for a stranger to guess but easy to remember when entering it on the different devices where you'll be viewing the camera feed.
Accessing a camera from a smartphone/tablet: things to keep in mind:
- As we mentioned before, please confirm that you have the latest update of the App.
- Above all, use a strong password, and it would be good to disconnect from the app when not in use; this is especially recommended if your phone is lost or stolen so that no one can access your app information.
It would also be a good idea to change the smartphone settings so that it cannot automatically connect to unknown Wi-Fi networks.
There are also cameras that have a battery that allows them to be autonomous and do not need an external power source.
Cameras with motion detectors
Wireless security camera systems can be equipped with motion sensor technology that is both efficient and safe.
Security cameras with built-in motion detectors will automatically start recording in the direction of movement and capture everything that happens. Many of them have smart motion sensors that allow them to differentiate between a real intrusion and that of a pet in the frame, or the movement of a curtain caused by the wind, which could trigger an alarm. For example, the Xiaomi 360º camera incorporates this sensor.
Night Vision
It's important that the camera we choose has high-quality night vision. This is a vital feature because most burglaries occur at night, and we'll need the highest possible image quality without any light that could alert the intruder that they're being recorded. Most cameras have infrared (IR) lights surrounding the lens, allowing them to see in total darkness without any additional light source. Infrared light is a spectrum of light invisible to the human eye and can only be captured by cameras with special sensors.
The overall view we get from the video is usually always in black and white because it is very difficult to capture colors in complete darkness with a single light source such as IR lights, as these only capture a small spectrum of light.
Sample image of what the image would look like with a camera in night mode.