Willing to pay for help with my cameras

[ilan1h2020]

I have 4 IP cameras at my office and I can access them easily on my office computer and even on my smart phone when I am at the office (using the office Wifi). However, I cannot access the cameras when I am not at the office (using ivms). I know that this must be some kind of router setting or something else fairly simple but I do not want to waste more of my precious time figuring it out. Would be happy to pay anyone who can guide me through the fix or even who can do a remote log in and fix the problem.

P.S: Not interested in any advice regarding VPNs, security issues, different systems etc etc. Just want the problem fixed so that I can access my cameras when I am not at work. I used to be able to do this but something changed and I can no longer access it.

 

[bp2008]

Well a VPN is the easiest way to do it with ivms, and it is the only safe way. If you port forward directly to the cameras or allow "UPnP" to be active, that is how cameras get hacked, and then you are resetting them every few days, or fully replacing them if the hackers are mean enough to turn them into bricks.

What brand and model of internet router do you have? Maybe it has a VPN server built in already. If you can get that set up, then you just connect your PC/phone/tablet/whatever to the VPN and then iVMS should work just like it does when you are at your office.

 

[fenderman]

P.S: Not interested in any advice regarding VPNs, security issues, different systems etc etc. Just want the problem fixed so that I can access my cameras when I am not at work. I used to be able to do this but something changed and I can no longer access it.

You are asking someone to open themselves up to liability by port forwarding your equipment. You have people personal info, likely a credit card machine and possibly sensitive medical or credit records.

 

[SouthernYankee]

2020
Most likely not going to happen, I would never open a system to known security risks. If you keep this stupid way of thinking, then you do not deserve to have a business.

 

[ilan1h2020]

I am not opposed to VPN or any other security measures. There must be millions of cameras in the U.S who are operating like mine and are "exposed" and I have not heard of any security crisis regarding this issue. However, as I said before it's probably a good idea and I'm not opposed to it. I am looking for someone to solve the problem for me and have wasted enough time with it. My options now are simply to junk the system and not use it (because I can't get it to work), or to find a professional who can get it up and running. As I mentioned before: I can see the cameras just fine on my ivms on my work PC. Also, when I'm at work I can see it on an IE browser. Lastly, I can see it on my cell phone when I'm on the office wifi. However, my real need is to access my cameras when I'm out of the office.

 

[fenderman]

I am not opposed to VPN or any other security measures. There must be millions of cameras in the U.S who are operating like mine and are "exposed" and I have not heard of any security crisis regarding this issue. However, as I said before it's probably a good idea and I'm not opposed to it. I am looking for someone to solve the problem for me and have wasted enough time with it. My options now are simply to junk the system and not use it (because I can't get it to work), or to find a professional who can get it up and running. As I mentioned before: I can see the cameras just fine on my ivms on my work PC. Also, when I'm at work I can see it on an IE browser. Lastly, I can see it on my cell phone when I'm on the office wifi. However, my real need is to access my cameras when I'm out of the office.

You have not heard of any issues? Pop over to the Cyber security section of the forum. There are plenty and they are quite impressive.

 

[mat200]

I am not opposed to VPN or any other security measures. There must be millions of cameras in the U.S who are operating like mine and are "exposed" and I have not heard of any security crisis regarding this issue.... My options now are simply to junk the system ...

Hi @ilan1h2020

As mentioned, numerous issues and security crisis with regards to unprotected security cameras and IoT devices.

Suggest selling the kit and replacing it with Nest cameras, it should make it easier for you.

 

[alastairstevenson]

My options now are simply to junk the system and not use it (because I can't get it to work), or to find a professional who can get it up and running.

With apologies for adding to the thread.
But I feel a strong need.

I'm a bit appalled at how little you seem to value the data that resides in your office environment that you'd want to allow the entire internet to gain access to it.
It's bad enough in a home environment, but in an office environment the stakes are considerably higher.
A competent 'professional' technician would refuse to do what you are asking.

A suggestion:
Ask your ISP to install an additional service, and connect only the cameras (and the NVR if that's part of the system) to it.
You can still access it in the office over the new service WiFi from your phone, and could 'port forward' as needed to allow anyone on the global internet access to the cameras (and NVR if you have one) including yourself from the home environment.
Then, when it does get hacked, only the cameras will be impacted, not the devices and data within your office environment.

 

[ilan1h2020]

Lot's of concerns about security on this thread! Even though that's not what I'm asking. I have NO concerns about security. There's nothing to steal or hack into in my systems. We keep no credit cards, records of monies, banking or anything else of any importance on our system. If anyone hacked into my network I would be up and running the next day with no issues. 100% of what we do is done on a third party proprietary website which we access each day with a username and password. I also use Evernote, Gmail etc which are all third party sites and difficult to "hack into". We have a credit card terminal which is "compliant" in the sense that I undergo a trustwave procedure with it and pay extra compliance fees each month. My merchant processor told me that it would be almost impossible to hack (a few cases in thousands of customers). Therefore, I'm not as concerned as you guys are about my security. I'm willing to pay well for anyone that can walk me through my problem. Currently, I can actually see thumbnails of my cameras on the IVMS "Maintenance and Management" tab under "Group". If I click on the "edit" icon I can actually see what my camera is seeing. Here is a screenshot.


But when I go to the "Main View" tab to see my cameras in action, I get an HCNetSDK.dll(7) message about being unable to reconnect. If I can see the cameras in one section of the program but not in the other I am assuming that this is a simple issue involving setting parameters. Also, I have had these cameras for 4 years and have never had a problem accessing them from home (this is a recent problem). I have also never had a security breach in these 4 years.

 

[mat200]

Lot's of concerns about security on this thread! Even though that's not what I'm asking. I have NO concerns about security. There's nothing to steal or hack into in my systems. ...

Hi @ilan1h2020

Question:
Do you keep your car locked?
Do you keep your house locked?

Why?

Would you mind if someone borrowed your car to rob a bank?
Would you mind if someone borrowed your house to make meth?

Well, that's one of the aspects attackers like to do with your bandwidth and computers. They like to hijack your computers to attack banks, steal bitcoin, extort businesses with Ransomware or DDOS attacks, pass kiddie porn out, etc...

While you think there is no value in your computers - there are - and it is the ability to use them and your internet connection to make money in illegal ways WHICH can cause you significant issues.

Seriously, sell your current setup and get a bunch of Nest cameras.

 

[alastairstevenson]

If anyone hacked into my network I would be up and running the next day with no issues.

Lol! Do a Google search on 'ransomware'.

There are multiple facets to 'being hacked', it's not how it used to be ages back.
The best hacks for the environment you've described would not be noticed. Until too late.

100% of what we do is done on a third party proprietary website which we access each day with a username and password.

What makes you think something like a keylogger inserted into your office network wouldn't slurp the credentials for that and all the other internet apps you use?

 

[mycatjest]

what you need is VPN - most routers support it, and you are then secure, vpn is very common now , its not complex - any IT tech can set it up for you

 

[Shockwave199]

More info needed. How was this set up before the problem? What was in the network settings? A dynamic service such as dyndns? Were there any port forwards set up? Did you get it working or did someone else? My first thought is your public ip address changed. Type in what's my ip address in a browser. See if it matches what is in the network settings of the cameras.