Thanks David, I think I have encrypted video, it's just all our images being stored on a public server that makes no sense to me. I had assumed that logging into the app would authenticate me to access images/video from the doorbell itself (or at least access it from a restricted cloud server).
I know a lot of people seem to have migrated go Reolink, do we know if they have a sane cloud architecture?
I would prefer not to set up a relay for doorbell rings, there's only so much tech debt a household can take on I already run stuff via Home Assistant, it's just doorbell notifications are a key missing piece there that requires the app.
I personally try to stay away from clouds. I did use the EZVIZ App when I had my LaView DB (Hik/DB1 variant) but now with ReoLink I do not use their Cloud/App.
What drew many of us to the ReoLink is their POE version. No more RF signal issues with WiFi, plus much more secure...
The video quality is much better with the ReoLink, the HA integration is nice, you get motion, person detection and door button press (Visitor)
I use
Blue Iris for my motion and CPAI person detection, when someone is motion detected, the wife and I get a notification on our phones, thru the HA App. Our phones are connected to our local VPN Server (pfSense), so viewing any cameras are encrypted...
But here are the negatives, the ReoLink DB does not connect to your Chime, it comes with it's own chime. Not a problem, we actually like it's Chime plus there are ways to still use your existing chime:
Next negative is no WDR or BLC, so if you get alot of sun in the background where you DB is pointed to, a person's face will be washed out until they get out of the sun, or you can adjust to where you can see them in the sun but they will be too dark out of the sunlight. Most of us have other cameras that capture someone walking up our yard to the front door so we adjust for a good picture when they are out of the sun.
But minus these few negatives I still like the ReoLink much better than my LaView. I enjoyed my LaView for several years so I am not downing it, had Hik came out with a newer version, I might of went that route, but from what I read here some are saying with newer firmware versions, they were taking away ONVIF and other features.
HTH