Ok..
Not looking for service or any kind of support from them.
Just looking for firmware.
I think there is a difference.
But I am done buying Hikvision product that is for sure.
Truly a fantastic company....
Um, you realize EVERY camera has exploit vulnerabilities...even high end AXIS cameras.
If you are done buying Hikvision over this, then you might as well stay away from the likes of Axis or Dahua as they will say the same thing as Hikvision....if you want call center support (that sucks), then you need to purchase consumer grade cameras like Amcrest, Lorex, Night Owl, Swann, Arlo, Nest, Ring, etc.... All of which will have exploits and some more than others (like the cloud-based Ring and Next)....so you either pay for quality gear with no 1-800 number, or buy inferior products that come with 1-800 numbers.
So your options are to do what most of us do here is prevent your cameras from having internet access
OR not have cameras
OR let them have internet access realizing they will be exploited at some point...
Looking for firmware and support is the same thing - if you updated to a firmware that bricked it, you would certainly be looking to them for support...for all you know that ebay special is Chinese region hacked that will brick if you try to update the firmware....
You really need to be asking yourself why are you updating? If it is just for grins and giggles or OCD behavior to be running the latest firmware, think twice.
A common theme around here is don't fix what ain't broke. If the unit is working and meets your needs, in many instances an update breaks what you had working and provides you with something you didn't need or bricks the camera. In most instances, updates are simply security vulnerability patches (usually years after the breach was found), but since we do not give our cameras internet access, the update is useless to us.
Here are issues I have seen people report here where they were upgrading just for the sake of upgrading:
- A Dahua Z12E that someone updated and then constantly reboots comes to mind.
- The Dahua 49225 and 49425 PTZ that loses autotracking with an update come to mind.
- The Hikvision DS-2DEA425IW-DW PTZ that loses autotracking with an update comes to mind.
- A Hikvision ANPR camera losing half the FPS and loses the ability to read US plates - those are big deals to have happen.
- A Hikvision ANPR DS-2CD4A26FWD camera that lost all ability to read plates - kinda makes the camera useless.
- A Hikvision camera that the user lost ability to control the LED light function at night.
- A Hikvision wifi camera that loses the ability to use wifi after a firmware update.
- Dahua 5442 that will not allow playback of the SD card.
- Countless other instances where the camera or NVR simply bricked and became useless.
- Countless examples where the camera or NVR went into Chinese.
Don't do it unless it is fixing a problem you are experiencing or adds a feature you really need.
Further,
it is best to obtain any firmware updates from the vendor you purchased it from so that you do not run into issues. Any firmware you find here or elsewhere is obviously proceed at your own risk. We have many threads here where someone tried an update with a firmware they found on the internet and bricked their unit.
Many units being sold are Chinese hacked units into English that will either brick or go into Chinese upon updating. Some vendors will be upfront and tell consumers that as part of their website, but many do not or the consumer forgets...here is one such example....
