Outdoor security cameras can be used for various purposes and your particular needs will determine which one is best. If you’re looking for minimal upkeep, an outdoor camera with a power cord might be the best bet, whereas monitoring spaces far from a power outlet could make a battery-powered device a better option. In general, outdoor cameras with at least 1080p resolution, a wide field of view, night vision and deterrence features like a spotlight or alarm will serve you well.
“,”quickTake”:””,”canCollapse”:”true”,”collapseOnPageLoad”:”false”,”canTruncate”:”true”,”truncateOnPageLoad”:”false”},{“question”:”What are the privacy and security considerations for outdoor cameras?”,”answer”:”
If you’re privacy conscious, then your best bet is to shop for security cameras that let you store the footage locally, usually on a microSD card or some other means of storage on the device itself. Once you start uploading your video for storage on a company’s servers, that footage is subject to the company’s policies regarding storing and sharing it.
On the security front, the best way to keep your footage safe from unauthorized access or hacks is to make sure that you’re using two-factor authentication, which greatly reduces the odds that anyone can access your account without your knowledge. If you’re uploading footage to a company’s servers, you’ll want to make sure that the footage is encrypted along the way.
The most secure approach is end-to-end encryption, or E2EE, which means nobody can access your footage without a unique decryption key associated with your device. With E2EE, even the company you’re storing the footage with shouldn’t be able to access your clips. “Encryption in transit” and “encryption at rest” are good standards as well but they wouldn’t necessarily prevent the company you’re storing footage with from being able to access your clips.
One more thing: It should go without saying but these outdoor cameras are meant to keep an eye on your own home and property. Set one up someplace where you don’t have permission or where people have a reasonable expectation of privacy and you “_blank” rel=”” data-id=”739f1084-e67f-4e22-b590-5500eeecf60c” href=”https://www.safewise.com/security-camera-laws/”>could run afoul of the law.
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Whether you’re worried about extreme cold, rain or any other inclement weather, you’ll want to be sure to check your camera’s IP rating and lowest operating temperature. IP ratings of 65 or 66 are solid; you won’t get dust into the outdoor camera or water unless submerged.
Generally, you’ll also want to compare your regional winter temperatures to your camera’s lowest operating temperature. Battery-operated cameras usually need warmer temperatures. The Google Nest Cam may start running into trouble as temperatures go below 32 degrees Fahrenheit regularly, while our top Arlo pick can work at minus 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
“,”quickTake”:””,”canCollapse”:”true”,”collapseOnPageLoad”:”false”,”canTruncate”:”true”,”truncateOnPageLoad”:”false”},{“question”:”What do I do if my outdoor camera records a crime?”,”answer”:”
If you believe your outdoor camera has recorded footage of a crime, first download or transfer that footage as a shareable video file on your computer so you don’t have to worry about it disappearing. Then look up your local police website and see if they can file a police report online. Most do and you will usually have an opportunity to attach your video footage. Those steps are important for legal and insurance purposes.
If you want to pursue the incident, we suggest you immediately call the police afterward and explain your situation, clearly stating that you have evidence and are interested in taking further steps. If you aren’t seeing the desired results from your conversations, consider consulting with a criminal attorney or similar legal expert.
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Yes, all outdoor security cameras should have some capability to let you see and record at night time, but some of them have extra night vision features. For example, the Arlo Pro 5S 2K has color night vision that can enhance the scene of dark environments. The TP-Link Tapo C310 also has night vision reaching 98 feet. If you’re looking for specific night vision features, double-check the model you’re considering to make sure it has what you want.
“,”quickTake”:””,”canCollapse”:”true”,”collapseOnPageLoad”:”false”,”canTruncate”:”true”,”truncateOnPageLoad”:”false”},{“question”:”How long do outdoor security camera batteries last?”,”answer”:”
Battery life varies based on many factors, most notably activations or every time it turns on to record sensed motion. If that happens 12 to 20 times a day, a battery can quickly drain over a few weeks. For normal activations, most batteries last several months or so. There are also outliers, like the Blink Outdoor 4. It’s two-year rated battery has held up under our testing and may even exceed that mark.
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