Safari 12.0 Removes NPAPI Plugin Support

[guykuo]

Just a warning for Safari users....

The latest Safari version 12.0 removes support for NPAPI plugins like the one for Dahua camera web interface.

 

[A23]

I will save some people some time if they happen upon this thread...

I just spent a couple of hours trying to figure out why my live view and motion config worked inside Safari (high sierra) yesterday but is acting like the plugin is not installed today.

I took a software update that apparently included Safari 12.0. As OP points out, that means the video from Dahua cams, which rely on the "npmedia" plugin will no longer work in Safari. This is what Wikipedia says related to this: "Removed support for running legacy NPAPI plug-ins, except for Adobe Flash." No idea why Flash gets special treatment.
Safari version history - Wikipedia

The same will be true for Hamcrest, Hikvision, etc. They rely on the same plugin. There seems to be no solution for those cams either based on a quick search of their forum and support sites.

There are a few related threads.
Safari plugin for Dahua IPCs.

This one provides alternatives for viewing video without plugins, including on Mac OS:
How to view Dahua cameras without browser plugins

 

[guykuo]

I did come up with one work around. You CAN keep both the old version of Safari as well as the new one, but you have to make arrangements before the update happens.

Essentially you create a renamed copy of the old Safari 11.1.2 before the new update replaces it. Because OSX won't let you do it wihin the application folder, option+drag the old Safari to make a copy of it on your desktop.
Rename that that copy to something other than "Safari" like "Safari Old"
After the update installs the new version, you can drag the "Safari Old" back into your application folder.
You end up with both the new Safari and "Safari Old" which can continue to be used.

When you need to manipulate a camera, launch the old version

 

[A23]

I did come up with one work around. You CAN keep both the old version of Safari as well as the new one, but you have to make arrangements before the update happens.

Essentially you create a renamed copy of the old Safari 11.1.2 before the new update replaces it. Because OSX won't let you do it wihin the application folder, option+drag the old Safari to make a copy of it on your desktop.
Rename that that copy to something other than "Safari" like "Safari Old"
After the update installs the new version, you can drag the "Safari Old" back into your application folder.
You end up with both the new Safari and "Safari Old" which can continue to be used.

When you need to manipulate a camera, launch the old version

Damn- wish I would have know about that before the update.

 

[guykuo]

Check if one of your backups has an older copy of Safari.
You probably still have one on an existing backup drive or in Time Machine.

 

[Laurel]

So has anyone figured out another work around for those who did not know until the update was already installed? Im using Safari. Sierra 10.12.6 I can see camera view on my iphone but want to view on my macbook.

 

[fenderman]

So has anyone figured out another work around for those who did not know until the update was already installed? Im using Safari. Sierra 10.12.6 I can see camera view on my iphone but want to view on my macbook.

see post #2

 

[Laurel]

see post #2

Yes thank you - I've read a lot today! I was just wondering if there was anything new since this thread is older and the information in thread in #2 post is outdated as far as Safari goes. Im using the software version but not happy about it. At least I figured out how to import all my cameras.

 

[fenderman]

Yes thank you - I've read a lot today! I was just wondering if there was anything new since this thread is older and the information in thread in #2 post is outdated as far as Safari goes. Im using the software version but not happy about it. At least I figured out how to import all my cameras.

This thread is two days old.

 

[tangent]

Just out of curiosity, have people actually tried the bookmarklet code at the end of my How to view Dahua cameras without browser plugins thread?
I know they're really simple but a lack of any comments on the bookmarklets has me wondering if I need to better explain to use them or maybe people stopped reading before they got that far.

It is possible to use Firefox ESR 52 on a mac with Dahua cameras as well as Google Chrome with the nacl chrome app. I tested both a while ago.

SmartPSS is the simplest option for Mac OS X viewing.

 

[mark_whocares]

SmartPSS is the simplest option for Mac OS X viewing.

this , +1.

it's pretty disapointing, frustrating, how many bugs there are in the webinterface / firmware is for the most popular cameras here.

while you can't do everything in smartPSS, you can do a LOT and it's generally less frustrating than the web interface. ( e.g. settings not saving, pages not updating properly for drop down population,..etc )

...but for most people the starlight are still be best bang for the buck. firmware/interface frustrations and all.

 

[A23]

Went ahead and tried SmartPSS 2.00.0 (2017-01-20). As soon as I configure one of my cameras (HFW4300S) in SmartPSS, the camera restarts.
Looking at the log, I see the login from the SmartPSS user and the next line is "Abort" and that's when the camera restarts. When it comes back up, it will continue to "Abort" and restart unless I unconfigure the camera in SmartPSS or close the application.

I found only one other thread related to this:
SmartPSS 2.001 keeps rebooting my cameras
which was apparently resolved by a firmware upgrade.
That's not an option for me with my old cameras. I have version "2.420.0009.0.R, build : 2015-11-06" which I believe to be the latest.

Next I will try to use a 1.x version of SmartPSS to see if that doesn't render my cameras useless.

 

[guykuo]

Great. If you update to Mojave, not only does it remove any old versions of Safari in the application folder, but it also prevents launch of older versions even if you re-copy one into the application folder.

 

[mmmburritos]

Does anyone know if Dahua has any plans to update their browser support to work without a plugin? SmartPSS is ok on mac, it certainly works well for viewing and some basic things but on the PTZ cameras you can't set up a lot of the features and I find it pretty difficult to configure IVS on SmartPSS also.

 

[tangent]

Does anyone know if Dahua has any plans to update their browser support to work without a plugin? SmartPSS is ok on mac, it certainly works well for viewing and some basic things but on the PTZ cameras you can't set up a lot of the features and I find it pretty difficult to configure IVS on SmartPSS also.

Somebody claims to have a dahua camera that works without plugins if you set your browser to pretend it's an iPad.
There is a placeholder of sorts in the camera html code for HLS video.
They've got a new camera or two that uses Adobe Flash instead of their own plugin, which isn't exactly progress.

Your best option is to use Blue Iris or a similar VMS to record your cameras that can re-stream the video in a format that works with modern browsers.

 

[quest100]

Firefox ESL 52 works under Mojave, just make sure the auto update feature doesn’t bump you up to a later version. Had to reinstall a couple of times. Check the about Firefox dialog and make sure you are running 52. Not sure if the plugin I’m using is the one downloaded directly from the camera or from the wiki page for the NVR5000 series. Finally able to view a camera and draw regions for IVS on my Mac.

 

[tangent]

Firefox ESL 52 works under Mojave, just make sure the auto update feature doesn’t bump you up to a later version. Had to reinstall a couple of times. Check the about Firefox dialog and make sure you are running 52. Not sure if the plugin I’m using is the one downloaded directly from the camera or from the wiki page for the NVR5000 series. Finally able to view a camera and draw regions for IVS on my Mac.

Here's what I'd do to install FF ESR 52:
Copy it from the dmg to your desktop, rename it Firefox ESR.app
Right click it, choose get info, and lock it
Move the renamed, locked app to your applications folder.

I think this is probably the simplest way to break auto updates.

 

[Laurel]

Just out of curiosity, have people actually tried the bookmarklet code at the end of my How to view Dahua cameras without browser plugins thread?
I know they're really simple but a lack of any comments on the bookmarklets has me wondering if I need to better explain to use them or maybe people stopped reading before they got that far.

It is possible to use Firefox ESR 52 on a mac with Dahua cameras as well as Google Chrome with the nacl chrome app. I tested both a while ago.

SmartPSS is the simplest option for Mac OS X viewing.

I went to the site and downloaded the smart PSS and Im not sure what the issue was- i just cant remember but I had a problem. I'm currently using the software for my 4 camera views.
The funny thing is prior to coming to this forum and reading every thread & post on this issue here, I could not figure out how to import the cameras into the software- i had been trying on & off for weeks. (I'm obviously not too tech literate but am good at following clear directions). I have no idea how I made it happen but the day after posting here, all 4 cameras were viewable in the software. Note- my cameras are Sony and the software I'm using is NVMS7000. It's what I have on my iphone & ipad and now my macbook. It's what the alarm company installer put on my iphone. Could Smart PSS be what finally helped import the cameras into the software? Sorry for sounding like a moron lol! It works now- not in the browser (Safari) unfortunately, but Im getting used to it.

I don't want to instal or use other browsers because Safari works.

 

[Dantwan]

Here's what I'd do to install FF ESR 52:
Copy it from the dmg to your desktop, rename it Firefox ESR.app
Right click it, choose get info, and lock it
Move the renamed, locked app to your applications folder.

I think this is probably the simplest way to break auto updates.

Just wanted to share how I accomplished this on my Mac running Mojave and another one running High Sierra:

I had to install firefox for my home and work cameras (Hikvision and Herovision generic Chinese IP cameras)

1 - I installed ESR 52.0 which I downloaded from here: Directory Listing: /pub/firefox/releases/52.0esr/
2 - I then turned off my wifi
3 - opened Firefox
4 - clicked Firefox (menu - this is on a Mac) > About Firefox and then disabled auto-update.

This old version of Firefox is a little crash-y but if you only use it for the cameras it should be fine.

 

[Laurel]

If you ever use public wifi on your machine, (and even if you don't), you are taking a huge risk by continuing to use the plug in workarounds. There is a good reason why they stopped working! The people who make the software need to address this issue. The solutions being offered here not only compromise the security of our computers and leave us vulnerable to malware & virus attacks, they are temporary fixes as well. From what I have read in this forum, "Adobe plans to kill flash completely in 2020".
Avoiding cyber attacks on macs depend on installing regular updates. From a security standpoint, folks are better off downloading & using software versions for camera views. If you do a workaround, make sure you are doing back ups!