Cool! Here's the lowdown on security: Dropcams encrypt all communications with TLS and use client certs + server certs, so they're resistant to sniffing and man-in-the-middle attacks even on open Wi-Fi networks.
Video does pass through our servers for NAT traversal, automated analysis (e.g. for motion/audio event detection), conversion, and (optional) storage. Local streaming when on the same network is "in work" as an optimization. Dropcam employees (including me, the CEO) are restricted from viewing your video by both technical and policy-based measures.
It's likely safer than storing video yourself. A burglar can steal any locally-stored video, and security bugs are even more likely to occur on your home network / devices than with a Dropcam since our software is continuously kept up-to-date (both server-side and OTA updates to cameras).
It's definitely safer than most other IP cameras which encourage you to use dyndns + open a port on your router. With those systems, don't forget to change the default password like 95% of people do, and also hope like hell that they don't have remote scripting vulnerabilities on their 2-year old firmware.
At Dropcam, we are incentivized to make sure you are the only one who can view your video, since you are our customer and we provide a service (not just a one-time sale). The only time we let others view your video is if you explicitly choose to share it.
Hope this helps, and thanks for considering Dropcam!
Video does pass through our servers for NAT traversal, automated analysis (e.g. for motion/audio event detection), conversion, and (optional) storage. Local streaming when on the same network is "in work" as an optimization. Dropcam employees (including me, the CEO) are restricted from viewing your video by both technical and policy-based measures.
It's likely safer than storing video yourself. A burglar can steal any locally-stored video, and security bugs are even more likely to occur on your home network / devices than with a Dropcam since our software is continuously kept up-to-date (both server-side and OTA updates to cameras).
It's definitely safer than most other IP cameras which encourage you to use dyndns + open a port on your router. With those systems, don't forget to change the default password like 95% of people do, and also hope like hell that they don't have remote scripting vulnerabilities on their 2-year old firmware.
At Dropcam, we are incentivized to make sure you are the only one who can view your video, since you are our customer and we provide a service (not just a one-time sale). The only time we let others view your video is if you explicitly choose to share it.
Hope this helps, and thanks for considering Dropcam!